DIGICEL PNG FOUNDATION GIVES MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS TO EVANGELICAL BROTHERHOOD CHURCH (EBC) OBURA HEALTH CENTRE & DIVISION OF HEALTH OBURA-WONENARA DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

Friday 13^th September 2103 – Kainantu : The Digicel PNG Foundation has partnered with Hon. Merrah Kipefa, Member for Obura-Wonenara who co-funded two Mobile Health Clinics (MHC) in the Obura-Wonenara District of Eastern Highlands Province. A health investment of K320,000, the Member contributed K100,000 to the much needed MHCs for his district. The EBC-Obura Heath Centre and Division of Health Obura-Wonenara District Administration of Eastern Highlands Province have agreed today to increase Health Services in the District. These MHC are the very first health infrastructure projects to be funded in the Eastern Highlands Province by Digicel PNG Foundation in one of the biggest population catchment districts in the province with the largest land mass in the highlands province. EBC-Obura Heath Centre is situated in the heart of Obura-Wonenara District and provide much needed health services to 26,000 plus population of the Lamari LLG. The EBC Health Centre is located about 35 kilometres from the Obura-Wonenara District Administration. The MHC will surely assist the EBC Health Centre with providing more outreach programs for 9 others clinical sites attached in the Lamari LLG under the EBC PNG Health Services Obura-Wonenara District Health Division a sector under the National Department of Health and is situated in the district Headquarter in Aiyura. The second MHC for the Obura-Wonenara Dsitrict is committed to serving the 84 000 plus population within its remote catchment areas of the Lamari,Yellia and Tairora LLG’s which has about 9 Health Centres, 19 Aid Posts, 3 Day Clinics and 1 Medical. The fully- kitted mobile health clinics will now ease the challenge that outreach staff  encounter when doing foot patrols and carrying medical supplies to walk and travel by the bad road conditions caused from landslides, soil erosions, etc  for long hours. When launching the mobile health clinics, MP Kipefa said, “We thank Digicel PNG Foundation  for supporting this project which is the first of its kind in the province. We are grateful for the work that Digicel Foundation has done since they have been established here in PNG, particularly their work in marginalized communities throughout PNG. This investment of K320,000 signifies Digicel PNG Foundation’s ongoing commitment to improve access to basic health services all throughout PNG. We are very thankful to Digicel Foundation for recognising Obura-Wonenara Health Division & EBC Obura Health Centres as a well-managed Government and Church run facilities and has today given us these mobile clinics to enhance the level of service that both health centres  provide for  the surrounding communities.”  Digicel PNG CEO Beatrice Mahuru said, “Digicel Foundation recognizes the importance of working in partnership with Government to ensure the sustainability of community projects in PNG. In that regard, we are delighted to partner with Obura-Wonenara Health Division & EBC Obura Health Centres to provide much needed health services to the people of Obura-Wonenara district. Access to basic health is vital for the development of Papua New Guinea and an area the Digicel Foundation recognizes and supports.”