by Fabian Hakalits – EM TV, Port Moresby
Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee On Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery, Bire Kimisopa, broke down in tears, after learning that Mabudawan village in the South Fly District of Western Province, has been silently suffering, from poor health services.
Mabudawan village shares borders with Australia and Indonesia. This wet land area is only accessible through sea transport.
It’s one of Papua New Guinea’s neglected villages, that hasn’t received much assistance from the national government; but only receives support from the Australian Government.
Health service delivery is relatively poor and the state has failed it’s responsibility to protect the wellbeing of its people, Mr Kimisopa told EMTV News, during the Fact Finding Mission to Mabudawan.
According to Naidi Magau, a community health worker at the rural health centre, every day is a struggle with the lack of funds for health patrols, medical equipment like labour beds, rundown buildings, no vaccinations, electricity and water supply.
Villagers told the committee that the government has denied them their right to basic services, since PNG became independent in 1975. They also expressed their worries over the neglect from elected MP’s, who they say, spend most of their time outside of the province.
Community leader, Daniel Wurumai, said health services are lacking and called on the national government to investigate where the district’s public funds are spent.
