By Fabian Hakalits – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The Yangoru-Saussia District will reserve K1 million in its annual budget for the salary of health workers.
The Yangoru-Saussia District, as part of its commitment to improve health standards, has adopted an initiative driven by local MP, Richard Maru.
The opening of the new health facilities, an aid post and staff house at Bapandu, West Yangoru, is just one of the many pieces of infrastructure that will be built.
“We will start to pay this month so that health workers can start work in our health facilities,” Maru said.
With services brought to people’s doorsteps, Acting District Health Manager, Glenis Wopmi, said this would help minimise some of the prolonged issues like deaths, because of inaccessibility.
“At least, we have equal distribution of health facilities in our district. For a district to make such commitments in paying salaries for its health workers is the first of its kind, maybe in PNG and is a boost to our health standards,” she said.
Locals, who were the proud recipients, shed tears of joy because for almost after 40 years they had not seen change.
Village Chief, Ronnie Kana, said that change has now come.
“We have seen change and we welcome change,” he said.
The Bapandu Aid Post and staff house are part of the health infrastructure development, in the Yangoru-Saussia District.
Communities have been challenged to look after these government assets.