The New Usino Health Facility recently opened over the weekend is the first health facility in Madang province that complied with the National Health Services standard.

Acting Director of Public Health Services, Dr. Martin Daimen, says in the past health facilities were built following the implementers own plans and designs.

But it is now a requirement that all health facilities have to follow the health services standards.

“Now we have to follow the National Health Services Standards, we will not accept other standards or buildings that do not meet the required health services standards. Under the authority we work according to the National Health Services Standard. And Usino Health Facility is the first facility to follow the standard.”

Dr. Daimen explained that other health services starting from the aid post level to the provincial hospitals will need to follow the same approach.

Recently the Madang Provincial Health Authority Board has approved the Strategic Health Services Development Plan.

“The Development Plan is a roadmap to guide the establishment of health facilities like the Usino-Bundi Health facility”.

Dr. Daimen added that MaPHA has already planned out what kind of facilities to build in the province, while there is also a plan to set up district hospitals in the 6 districts of Madang.

For now, Madang has two district hospitals run by the Lutheran Health services.

Yagaum Rural Hospital in Madang District and Gaubin Rural Hospital on Karkar Island, Sumkar District.

“The other Districts would also have their own district hospitals. In Madang province the first district hospital, a pilot project in PNG first was in Pomio and the 2nd is in Daigul, Bogia District and work had already started to build the district hospital”.

Dr. Daimen says the task now lies with the local members and the District Development Authorities of each of the districts to work with MaPHA and to start work.

He is appealing to the people of Usino-Bundi and surrounding communities to take ownership of the new health facility and its health officers.

Madang has 48 major health facilities but two health centers in Raicoast District were closed due to criminal activities.

Walium Health Centre was also closed for a month as a result of law and order problems.

Dr.Daimen warned that similar actions will be taken if there are reports of staff harassment or breaking and entering or vandalism of the health facility.

He added that health services in Madang province have deteriorated over the years and the cost of delivering health care services has gone up.

“This is the risk MaPHA will have to take on. MaPHA Board, the senior executive management and staff will take on the cost of delivering health care in the province”.

Basic infrastructures like roads, bridges, airstrips and even law and order problems are some of the contributing factors affecting delivery of health care”.

Dr. Daimen says MaPHA will work with two specialized doctors to set up an eye clinic and a cancer unit at the new facility.

But there is still a need for other medical equipment that are yet to be fitted into the health facility with staff housing.

Local MP and Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro, says health facility was constructed through consultation with a team from the health department.

The team from the health department had done an assessment prior to the construction of the health center.

“Work on the Usino health facility is yet to be completed.

“This is phase one of the projects. The second phase is the construction of staff houses,” said local MP, Jimmy Uguro.

Uguro added that Usino Bundi’s district hospital will be a level 4 hospital as approved by the Health Minister and it will be built at Walium as that is the district’s headquarter.

Prime Minister, James Marape allocated funding of K5million, while the health department added another K5million for the district hospital.

Police in New Ireland carried out an awareness in Kavieng town for better policing in the Province.

According to Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector, Felix Nebanat, the Smart Policing Concept is the vehicle to drive change and set a road map to ensure there is a definite pathway in creating peace and good order in communities.

PPC Nebanat led the awareness campaign with the support from other police personnel and Community Auxiliary Police Officers who went out in two groups for the exercise.

“The concept is a bottom up approach by doing networking in partnership with stakeholders “said Chief Inspector Nebanat.

The exercise started off in and around the Kavieng Urban LLG and concluded at the Kavieng Club with emphasis on partnership in combating crime and town cleanliness.

“We can’t sit and wait; the awareness of the Smart Policing Concept sets the precedence of police presence in communities”, said the New Ireland PPC.

PPC Nebanat revealed that the next step of this program is to set up COP Shops in strategic locations around Kavieng Town where police will be stationed to monitor and maintain safety of people and the township.

Chief Inspector Nebanat said bonding is equally important to empower Auxiliary Police officers to revitalize community policing starting with Kavieng Urban LLG.

PPC Nebanat thanked business houses in Kavieng that supported the awareness campaign and acknowledged the participation of provincial authorities and other stakeholders.

Nebanat said smart policing is the ideal avenue to enhance capacity building in New Ireland which has been neglected and missing over the years.

Rubber farmers in North Fly District of Western Province will now enjoy an increase in rubber prices.

As of 1st April the farm gate rubber price increased to K2.00 per kilo.

Chairman and North Fly MP, James Donald confirmed this, saying the reason of the increase is self-explanatory as per the Joint Announcement Notice by North Fly Rubber Limited Chairman, Warren Dutton.

“This is the second time in the history of rubber price in North Fly with the previous between 2006 and 2007.

“Imagine the weight of 1000 kilograms will see farmers earn K2,000, “said MP Donald.

MP Donald urged rubber farmers to embrace the crop by planting more rubber trees to earn a decent income.

He said economically, farmers will benefit to meet other daily cost like paying school fees and medical expenses.

Donald said the North Fly DDA will continue to support the work of North Fly Rubber Limited (NFRL) in promoting the sustainable growth of rubber in the electorate.

“We will continue to improve with the aim to break the poverty cycle in every village, homes and families,” said MP Donald.

North Fly District in Western Province is one area in the country heavily involved in rubber production over the course of the past 5 years.

Police in New Ireland have increased the scope of elections awareness by discussing election security in schools in Kavieng District.

For a maritime province, the election awareness will be a challenge as 54 % of the population live on the mainland while 46% live on scattered islands.

New Ireland Police Boss, Chief Inspector, Felix Nebanat said the school awareness campaign is one approach to reaching a wider population on Election Security.

“We also need good vehicles capable of hitting the rugged road of the West Coast of New Ireland,” Mr Nebanat said.

With logistical and limited man power challenges, respresentatives from each police station in New Ireland underwent a Training of Trainers workshop with the aim to share their knowledge upon returning to their designated areas of operations.

“We aim to train all our police personnel to conduct election awareness and I believe this is the best positive way given our many challenges,” said Mr Nebanat.

200 auxillary police will be part of the Natel Security Operations in New Ireland.

“We will also be having police personnel coming in from East New Britain to assist us,” PPC Nebanat said.

The continuous blackouts in the city prompted Newcrest Mining Limited to assist one important non-government organization through the donation of a generator.

The Cheshire Disability Services provides crucial services to people with disabilities both within Port Moresby and surrounding communities. It is a non-government organization that relies solely on donations for its operations.

General Manager of the NGO group, Bernard Ayieko expressed sincere thanks and gratitude for the donation noting the reliable source of electricity required when power is interrupted.

Mr Ayieko said Chesire is an organization that operates like a hospital. The facility does not close down.

“There are carers who work on shift, day and night, meaning that at all times, power has to be on.”

He added that the Cheshire Home has had serious problems including faulty electronic equipment due to the constant blackouts.

This is the first time that Cheshire Disa

Ability Services has received a brand new genset; and appreciation from the Patron, Governor General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae was relayed to Newcrest Mining Limited.

Representative of Newcrest Mining, Mr. Borone Isana, officiated on the occasion, reiterating the Newcrest value of caring about people and working together.

CID Officers in Vanimo, West Sepik Province have arrived in Edwaki area in Telefomin District to assess and report on the killings of four people including two policemen in 2021.

West Sepik Police Commander, Chief Inspector Joe Poema said the area was left volatile and seen as a hotspot since the confrontation between locals and members of the Mobile Squad.

“These assessment reports will assist police in the deployment of the security personnel during the polling period,” said PPC Poema.

The recently established West Sepik Provincial Election Steering Committee is conducting election briefings weekly to ensure policemen and women are taking ownership of the security aspect of the election before going into the campaigning and the polling periods.

“I am taking a bottom-up approach involving Police Station Commanders (PSCs), Officer in Charge (OICs), Section Heads, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and other partners in the security planning briefings to ensure they provide us with weekly situation reports,” said PPC Poema.

Meanwhile through District Partnerships, police officers will travel to Telefomin station this week under the sponsorship of Telefomin DDA to conduct awareness and gather intelligent assessment reports.

These officers will remain there until the end of this month.