People living in villages near remote Teapopo, on the Fly River will no longer have to travel for hours to Daru or Balimo to seek basic medical services after Kumul Petroleum joined with the provincial government and opened a newly constructed health centre.
The opening was officiated by Kumul Petroleum’s external affairs executive general manager, Luke Liria, and attended by other senior provincial and government ministers recently.
Dr. Liria said during the opening, “Investing in health care facilities such as the Teapopo health centre improves the livelihoods of community members and also contributes the development and prosperity of the nation. Kumul Petroleum Holdings is always ready to support the health care system in Papua New Guinea.
“The Teapopo health facility is fully equipped and includes staff housing. There are six in-patient wards, an antenatal clinic and a month’s supply of drugs. The facility is solar powered, has rainwater collection and storage as well as a septic system – so it is self sufficient with regard to support services, very necessary in this location.”
Mr Liria said that people in the eight villages in this remote area on the north bank of the Fly River delta will not have to travel many hours by boat to Daru or Balimo for basic medical services.
”Our support for the construction of this health facility is a total of K4 million, and is consistent with our support of major health infrastructure in Port Moresby and elsewhere in the country.”
The successful construction of the Teapopo health facility construction and equipment fit-out was the result of a partnership between Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited, Member for South Fly, Hon. Sekie Agisa, Fly River Provincial Government and the Western Province Health Authority, and also utilised Provincial Improvement Program funds from the Department of National Planning and Monitoring. The building components were supplied by Rhodes and construction was carried out by Dokana Papua Construction Limited.
