Uni site declared emergency zone

THE Humilaveka hill where the University of Goroka is located has been declared an emergency zone due to the large number of students suffering from typhoid.
Pro vice-chancellor, policy and planning Donald Gumbis said health inspectors would be visiting the area to do further tests and reports.
“Management met with the provincial disease control officer, Jackson Appo, and his team,” he said.
“A health inspector and lab technician, Samuel Maibon and Fine Linu, visited the restaurant kitchen and the dining hall.
“They also visited the girls’ and boys’ dormitories, water-storage tanks and pumps and the ablution blocks of day students to gather information for their report,”Gumbis said.
Maibon said: “We cannot say that water is the main cause unless we find out how unhygienic it is.
“Surroundings, habitats, general health and hygiene also affect the whole picture.”
Maibon said they were awaiting results of water tests done at the National Analytic Laboratory at Unitech which would prove if it was waterborne.
“One major factor which was noticed in the mess and dormitories was the low water pressure which could contribute to a lot of the air, food and water-borne diseases.”
Gumbis appealed to the students to follow clean, hygienic practices after inspecting the male dormitories.
“(The) management’s appeal at the moment is for students and staff to take extra care by observing basic, good hygiene practices.
“The town’s water supply and quality should be improved.
Water PNG needs to partner with Goroka urban local level government to improve water supply to the whole town.”
Students are advised to go for testing at the school clinic.
The students welfare division has arranged for tests and medication at the Goroka Hospital pathology division and Lopi Urban Clinic.