Two trainee nurses on polio vaccination duty raped

By JIMMY KALEBE
THE rape of two student nurses on Monday at a village in the Wasu LLG of Tewai-Siassi in Morobe set “a very bad precedent for the province”, says Morobe police commander Superintendent Alex N’Drasal.
The young student nurses were on practical and were assisting in the second round of polio vaccination in the district when they were attacked and allegedly gang-raped by youths.
N’Drasal said yesterday that the nurses were confronted while on a bush track from one village to another. He said about 10 youths were allegedly involved in the incident and police believed they were under the influence of drugs and homebrew.
“I have over time addressed the need for more police manpower in the districts and have brought it up with political leaders from time to time that the eight districts of Morobe have not been policed properly,” N’Drasal said.
“The reason is that there is unavailability of funds to build houses for policemen and women in those rural communities so that police officers can be deployed there.”
The PPC said such incidents and others that happened in outer districts of Morobe came as a result of ignorance by political leaders assisting police in the districts.
“When there is assistance, police will ensure to do their jobs to serve the people,” he said.
“This is only one of the many incidents that are being reported but there are so many others not being reported.”
The PPC has made arrangements with staff from the office of the Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu to have policemen sent to Wasu to investigate the incident.
With the help of Tewai-Siassi MP, Dr Kobby Bomario, two members of the rural patrol unit and a CID are investigating the matter at Wasu.
According to N’Drasal, more policemen would be sent today to help with the investigation.
The Morobe health division is urging LLG and community leaders to help support the polio immunisation programme and provide security for the team, as a result of the incident.
Provincial health programme adviser Micah Yawing called on the authorities in districts and community leaders to help.
“I am waiting for the incident report,” he said.
“The incident is not really good. I am not happy. I am very disappointed with the local people especially in Wasu and Tewae-Siassi.
“This should have not happened because we are in a national emergency so the team and the trainees are trying to help our people.
“This kind of act and behaviour by the local community should not happen.”