Water issue keeps kids off school

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
HUNDREDS of people living at Morata Three in Port Moresby have been without water since 2014.
They told The National that the water issue had been contributing to their children’s frequent absenteeism from schools.
It added to their economic burden and put mothers’ lives at risk when they walked in the early hours of the morning to look for water.
“Since fetching water is seen as a female responsibility, we mothers wake up at 4am and walk to 8-Mile to fetch water to prepare our children for school, as well as for other family members to use,” said Helen Timothy
“It has been a daily routine for us since water was disconnected.
“Some of us mothers who had been sewing and selling to earn money for the family had to quit from sewing and concentrate on fetching water since it’s a basic need.”
Timothy said they fetched eight litres of water to use per day.
“I have recovered from an operation but I have no choice but to fetch water for my husband, two brothers with their two wives and my two children to use,” she said.
Angela Kay said she had been doing that for the past two years but had a stroke which affected the right side of her body, that took her over a year to recover.
She said they fetched water from a nearby drain for toilet purposes.
A working-class mother said every week she paid K350 for a water cart.
“I’ve been doing this for four years now and it has cost me a considerable amount of money,” said Ruth Konia.
Village magistrate and community leader Peter Kay said lots 1 to 28 of Nikit Street, which included Morata Primary School, were affected.
He said several attempts were made to get Eda Ranu to reconnect wter but these fell on deaf ears.
“I give Eda Ranu three weeks to reconnect the water supply or else we will consider taking legal action against them,” Kay said.