Water hygiene policy gets K300mil funding

The National National

By Glenda Awikiak
Counter-funding of K311 million from development partners and the Government has been invested for implementation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) Policy.
The development partners are:

  • World Bank K210.45 million;
  • European Union through Unicef K78.54 million for implementation of Wash in institutions like schools and clinics;
  • Asian Development Bank K2 million; and
  • Government K20 million in the 2018 development budget.

The government‘s counterpart funding is mostly for design and scoping work in selected provincial and district towns, including newly established Tari (Hela) and Kurumu (Jiwaka).
Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Richard Maru said Government had shown the way by developing the Wash policy.
Maru said separating of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement between Eda Ranu and JC-KRTA would save Government K96 million to K108 million per year.
JC-KRTA is a Malaysian company that is contracted by the Eda Ranu to operate its water and sewerage systems.
Their agreement expires this year.
Maru said these savings could be used as capital funding to be invested in expanding water supply and sewerage systems for the rest of the country.
PNG has missed its medium development goal (MDG) targets for water and sanitation.
The country is not on track to meet its own national development targets of 70 per cent access by 2030 and 100 per cent access by 2030.
He said because of that, the Government had committed itself to improve this sector so the country could achieve its goals set out in the WASH Policy by 2030.
These goals include:

  • Reduction in mobility and mortality caused by water-related disease;
  • Improved livelihood opportunities and economic growth through improved health and reduced economic and financial losses; and
  • Increased equity of services between rural ,sub-rural areas and disadvantaged groups

To achieve the Wash Policy goals, the Government has targeted 70 per cent of rural population, 90 per cent of urban areas and 100 per cent of educational institutions and medical centres.