Dry spell hitting home in Highlands

The dry spell is taking its toll in the Highlands, affecting many public institutions including health and education facilities.

The dry weather is continuing into the fifth week.

Mingende Rural Hospital in Chimbu Province is threatening to shut its operations due to having a poor water supply system.

The hospital's acting director of nursing services Peter Kelly told Loop news that all rain water catchment tanks had run out, leaving the patients and staff in dire need of water.

Kelly says most of the operations of the hospital are dependent on a good water supply system and without it they couldn’t  do much.

"The water supply system in this hospital has been an ongoing issue and none of the past and present MPs have ever attempted to fix it," says Kelly.

PNGLoop understands that the Sir Joseph Nombri hospital in Kundiawa has already scaled down its operations.

Many schools in Jiwaka Province are already sending children home as early as 1pm, allowing them to go to nearby shrinking creeks and rivers to bathe and fetch clean water for drinking, washing and cooking.

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John Kupul