The double story building for the Health Post. 
One of the two staff houses 
One of two staff houses. 
Hon. Richard Maru cutting the ribbon to officially open the Huliwa Health Post. 
East Sepik PHA CEO Matthew Kaluvia cutting the ribbon to officially open the Huliwa Health Post 
Members of the communities around Huliwa Station checking out their new Health Post.
By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
THE East Sepik Provincial Health Authority (PHA) has been neglectful in doing their jobs and did not have a good relationship with the Yangoru Saussia District for the last five years, says the Member for Yangoru Saussia Open Richard Maru.
“When I invited them (the PHA) for opening of Health Posts, they never came.
“They had never registered any of our Health Posts since they started out in the province; they had completely neglected their jobs and failed us big time,” said Maru during the official opening of Huliwa Health Post on Tuesday, April 12.
Maru said the district had been paying the staff of the unregistered Health Posts in the district for the last ten years and even today.
“I spend over K100, 000 every year for the wages of the health workers in the district; that is something I am not supposed to be doing if the PHA did its job to register the Health Posts and put the staff on payroll,” he said.
Maru challenged the new PHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Matthew Kaluvia to start a new chapter with the district and make changes under his leadership.
He challenged him to prove himself by sending staff and medical supply to the Huliwa Health Post and have it operating as soon as possible.
“People here have been waiting for this service for over 40 years.
“Many have died on the road while travelling to get to a nearby Health Post.
“They need to be served now.
“If you (PHA) are to delay because of registration issue then I am willing to pay the staff to work here,” said Maru.
“I need staff next week and I need this place to work and that is your work.
“I did my part already to build the Health Post for my people.
“We (DDA) invested K1 Million; we’ve done our part.
“It is your job now to put staff and drugs and get it running, and I also want the Health Post registered,” he said.
In response, CEO Kaluvia said he would work with the Catholic Health Services to make sure the health post is operational by this year.
“We (PHA and Catholic Health Services) will make sure to provide workforce, medical supplies and equipment, and visitation of doctors (rural outreach program) to cut down on number of patients going to town to see health service,” said Kaluvia.
Apart from speaking for Huliwa Health Post, Maru also called on the PHA to sort out all the unregistered Health Posts throughout the Yangoru Saussia district and to make sure that they are staffed with fully qualified and competent health workers.
“The theme of opening Health Posts is ‘Improving Health Service in Yangoru Saussia District’.
“We can’t do that without staff, without drugs and without registration.
“So, my challenge to the PHA is: if you want to work with me, prove yourself in a short time,” said Maru.
The K1 Million investment to build the Huliwa Health Post covered a double story building and two fully furnished staff houses.
The Health Post would provide service to about 5000 people living in the communities around Huliwa station.
Yangoru Saussia Dictrict is now also looking forward to having its own district hospital.
Maru said PHA had already prepared a submission for the hospital.
“On Monday (next week), I will personally sign the submission and formally hand it over to the government to fund the hospital from the 2023 budget,” said Maru.
“Yangoru Saussia is set to go next level in health,” he said.
