By Adelaide Sirox Kari – EMTV News, Port Moresby
In the blue mountains of Southern Highlands Province, the Nipa-Kutubu District is embarking on a 25-year district plan to develop the remote district.
We recently featured the District in our special independence program my province, my country for Southern Highlands Province.
The District Development Authority has moved there priority from Education to Health, and are looking to Hospital Tourism to generate revenue for the district.
The 25-year plan includes improving Education and Health standards, functioning Law and Order services in the District, and also bringing an appeal for Public servants in all sectors to be based in the district.
On Law and Order, the once no-go zone district due to tribal fights is looking to have all the structures needed. Currently being built is a K400, 000 National and District courthouse, along with housing and a penitentiary holding center.
For education, constant funding to schools and a teachers college in Nipa District.
And for health, the Southern Highlands Provincial Government and the Nipa Kutubu District are looking forward to the opening of a K25 million hospital and with housing provided for doctors and nurses willing to work in the district, especially specialist doctors. The District Development Authority says they are constantly funding health centers in different LLG’s, to ensure that only serious cases are referred to the Nipa Hospital.
But the district has its challenges, the national highway is a rough terrain and there are no major shopping centres in the district, however, the Nipa Kutubu District Government believes that developers will come in, once the district has vital government service in place and functioning.
