By Vasinatta Yama – EMTV News, Mt Hagen
Mapai Foundation, a local charitable organization by Mapai Transport owner, Jacob Luke, has funded projects at Monokam in Enga Province and handed them over to the Provincial Government. The projects are worth over K1 Million.
Mr Luke. has a vision to help his people and see a change in the rural outskirts of Enga Province.
The receiving village of Monokam in the Ambum district of the Kompiam-Ambum electorate is one of the remotest districts in the country. This is where Jacob Luke, the owner of Mapai Transport and Mapai Foundation, comes from. Based on his personal experience of the hardship of walking long distances to get basic services, he formed the foundation to give back to his people and change their mindsets and way of living.
Mapai Foundation constructed and maintained an 8.5 km road to Monokam, brought a water supply to the community, built a wholesale for local trade store owners to buy goods from, instead of having to go all the way to Wabag town. The Foundation also built a new market, two double classrooms for Monokam Primary School, a church, a house for his Council, bought an ambulance for the new Monokam Community Health Post, and a Generator set.
The Foundation also assisted the Asian Development Bank, Australian High Commission, and the National Department of Health to bring in equipment from Australia to build the new health post.
On Tuesday this week, Mr. Luke handed over keys to the Community Health Post and the projects to Enga Provincial Government and Enga Provincial Health. Present to witness the opening were Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Davis and representatives from the National Health Department, JICA, UN, WHO, and ADB.
Mr. Luke urged development partners and the National Government to help him build a lodge at Monokam, which will accommodate mothers who are in labor and those who have walked long distances to come to the health post, but the beds are always full for them to stay and deliver.
Monokam Health Post is the 9th Community Health Post of the 32 being constructed in the country. This assistance will help to address the maternal mortality rate in the country.
Mapai Foundation will also be subsidizing medical fees at the new Health Post.
