By Bethanie Harriman – EMTV News, Lae
An aid post in a remote village in telefomin has no medical drugs and no health worker for the last five years.
The Urapmin aid post was built in the early sixties, and it brings to attention the lack of health services reaching people in remote parts of the country.
Villages in Telefomin are scattered through out some of the countries toughest terrains.
In harsh and beautiful lands lay challenges that reach the heart of the people in Tifalmin, Oxsapmin and Urapmin.
The Urapmin aid post remains under developed and under funded, though the district administration has made drugs available at the Telefomin station there is a shortage of community health workers.
Peter Apsi walks inside the aid post and explains the peoples plight. He used to work here five years ago, but he has left to go work at another aid post at tifalmin.
“What the people want is for our local member of parliament is to help us build a new building, the drugs cant be kept on the floor, they must be in a cupboard,” said Apsi.
The aid post is semi-permanent built in the colonial era, it’s decaying away, the equipment are old and the drugs are expired.
“In 1978 the council had a bit of money that it used to by iron roofing and timber,” said Urapmin Community Leader, Ron Koranim.
Community Leaders say the district administration makes funds available for drugs, but they need a new building and more funding for the operation of the aid post.
