Northern Province

Major Impact Projects Launched in Oro

From the Girua Airport, the group and entourage proceeded to the township of Oro.

After arriving at Embara, the groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation, maintenance and sealing of the Kokoda and Northern Highway took place. The program was brief as the team had to travel to Oro Bay to hold a similar ceremony for the communities in the area.

The Kokoda Northern Highway is an Australian Government funded project under the Transport Support Program (TSSP)  and is valued at K51 million.

Police hailed for catching criminals

. The criminals took hostages after they realized police had surrounded the building. Oro Governor Gary Juffa commended them for pursuing the criminals and not allowing them to get away.

Governor Juffa also thanked locals who assisted in apprehending four of the suspects who tried to escape on foot.

On Saturday morning February 5, six suspects held up a PMV bus at the Popondetta local market and drove up to town, where they held up the City Pharmacy outlet.

While they were robbing the shop, local police were alerted and quickly surrounded the building.

Solar fridges for Oro aid posts

With funding from the PNG-Australia Partnership, Australian NGO, the Kokoda Track Foundation, is working alongside the Northern Provincial Health Authority to supply and install the solar fridges to every operating aid post in the province, regardless of how remote their location.

KTF CEO, Dr Genevieve Nelson, said: “Vaccination is critical to PNG’s future, as it is for all countries, allowing us to live more safely with not only COVID-19, but many other endemic diseases.

Loggers Have Permits Suspended

In a media statement issued today, Governor Gary Juffa applauded the swift action of the Conservation Environmental Protection Authority (CEPA) in suspending the permits.

Governor Juffa stated that the companies currently operating there were doing so with illegal permits and licenses procured fraudulently, given that all applications for various permits and licenses were null and void.

Northern told to comply

This concern was raised during a recent awareness drive conducted by the Northern Provincial Health Authority (NPHA).

Early this week, Northern reported its first three cases.

The province was one of two provinces that had zero cases until recently.

Magei said: “No one is immune to this virus and I am appealing to the people of Northern to take heed by complying to the protocols because ignorance is the main killer and not the virus itself.

“Further to this, we have a weak health system and I cannot guarantee anyone’s safety.”

Solar lights work wonders for 7yo

But ever since solar lights were installed in the family home of seven-year-old Norman Woito from Buna village, he now looks forward to studying with his mother after school.

Parents Wilfred and Liferty Woito said it used to be difficult to encourage the Buna elementary student to do his school work in the dark.

“He mostly complained about doing his homework because he could not see clearly with the torch lights, which only worked for a short time,” said Liferty.

Youths find voice in remote communities

This follows the commissioning of three Local Level Youth Development Councils (LLYDC).

The three Local Level Governments (LLGs) - Popondetta Urban, Kira and Afore - successfully established their Youth Development Councils and elected their executives, who were sworn in by Senior Provincial Magistrate Leonard Mesmi.

One of them was Boroh Taraba, a young man from a remote village in Kira LLG who has long aspired to draw attention to the needs of young people in his community.

Funds spent yet shortage continues: Juffa

Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and Governor of Northern Province, Gary Juffa, said concerns raised by doctors, nurses and rural medical workers on the shortage of medicines and basic consumables has been heard.

This public outcry has prompted the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts to conduct an inquiry into the controversies surrounding the awarding of contract to a pharmaceutical firm.

Kokoda schools get new classrooms

The new double classrooms provide over 140 elementary and primary students with a more comfortable learning environment, and encourage girls and boys to attend lessons and stay in school. To provide clean water, a 9000 litre water tank has been attached to each building.

Launch ceremonies were held at both schools on 31 August, attended by students, teachers, local officials, community members and representatives from the Australian High Commission.

Over 70 young men, women surrender weapons

People at risk of becoming involved in crimes including armed robbery, drug trafficking, burglary and petty theft were among the 72 who handed in 25 weapons including homemade guns as well as knives, significant quantities of drugs and home brewing gear in a series of surrender ceremonies within Popondetta recently. The weapons, drugs and equipment were collected by police for disposal and destruction.