By Julie Badui-Owa
A PATIENT from Kawarang Village of the Wain-Erap Local Level Government (LLG) area in Morobe’s Nawaeb District was the first villager to be transported by ambulance to Angau Provincial Hospital in Lae after 50 years.
The three villages of Kawarang, Balawang and Kasingan have faced the reality of having no access to road transport.
Locals from these villages have struggled without proper road access and having to walk for hours, or even a full day to catch the nearest PMV connection.
Seeing an ambulance arrive at their village for the first time has given these communities hope that they will no longer be left bereft of government services.
Kawarang villagers normally walk by foot for hours before they reach the main PMV stop.
They then have to travel for almost three hours to get to Lae.
The Nawaeb District Development Authority, under the leadership of District Development Authority Chairman and Nawaeb MP Theo Pelgen, engaged contractors to open a vital road link for the local Wain-Erap people to have access to health and other essential government services.
“The road that can carry an ambulance means a mother, father, child or elderly person who needs urgent medical attention can now have a much faster pathway to health services,” said the Member for Nawaeb, Theo Pelgen.
Pelgen said the road would also strengthen access to markets, schools, health facilities and government services, while creating opportunities for coffee, cocoa and fresh-produce farmers in the area.
