by Fabian Hakalits – EM TV News, Popondetta
Health, education and transport infrastructure are the National Government’s priority areas of service delivery.
But the delivery of these services has not been seen in the Kira Local Level Government, Oro Province.
It is one of the most isolated areas of Papua New Guinea that shares borders with Morobe and Central Provinces.
The area can only be accessed by small aircrafts. This is because of the mountainous rugged terrain.
Transport infrastructure and communication are common problems just like other inland rural areas and is a hindrance to other developments in the education and health sector.
Villagers Pauline Bigo and Ben Abisah expressed the need for services to be established. There is little government presence.
It takes seven days to walk from Kira to Popondetta and three days to the nearest coastline to wait for boats that travel from Morobe. They have to walk over mountains to reach their destination.
Bigo and Abisah told EMTV News that mothers die along the way, an indication of the high infant and maternal mortality rate.
They also stated that health workers posted to Kira do not stay for long in the area.
Sohe MP, Delilah Gore has prioritised health in the LLG. She was thanked by villages for investing in health to ease their burdens.
A new health centre has been built with three kit homes for health workers under the District Services Improvement Program Funds.
Kira LLG President Chester Nauri thanked the local MP for realising people’s needs in most rural areas. These facilities will serve the over 6000 population.
Oro Provincial Health Authority Project Coordinator, Mathew Malas told EMTV News, strategic plans focus is to improve service delivery that needs political support.
The new health post and staff houses will be commissioned soon.
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