By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
MUNJI Village in the Yangoru Saussia District finally received 120 water tanks under the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) project and they now finally have access to clean water at their doorsteps after struggling for over 40 years to carry water on bamboos and containers from the streams.
Munji was the 21st village in the district to receive the WaSH project and they also received the highest number of tanks (120 tanks) so far.
For this project, each family contributed K600 and the District Development Authority (DDA) topped up K5, 400.
The district spent K1.2 Million to get the project done.
“That’s a very big investment; a very significant recognition especially for the mothers,” said Member for Yangoru Saussia Open Richard Maru during the opening of the Munji WaSH project last week.
“You should not have been given water tanks if you did not contribute some money.
“The nearby villages must see Munji as a model community; they contributed money, worked together, formed a committee and they received their tanks.
“If you don’t want to do that then you can wait and stay.
“I am willing to support communities who are prepared to put in little sacrifice and I top up and we move,” he said.
Maru said Yangoru Saussia is the only district in the East Sepik province that is implementing the WaSH project.
“WAsH is one of the most important programs in our country today.
“Having clean water tanks can improve health standards for the people in a very big way,” said Maru.
“Water is life so I want to give priority to this project and want every villages in the district to have clean water,” he said.
Maru said WaSH project is a right for everyone.
“Let me remind Munji, the district and the country that according to United Nations, human beings are born with certain rights.
“One of those rights is the right to safe water and sanitation; it is a fundamental human right,” said Maru.
“In 2016, the government of Papua New Guinea established the first WaSH policy under the Department of Planning and Monitoring with the aim to bring in clean water and good sanitation into all villages in the country.
“WAsH project is a right for everyone,” he said.
Apart from preventing water borne diseases, Maru said the WaSH project would enable the communities in the district to be part of the upcoming commercial chicken industry.
“If you don’t have safe water, how can you give water to your chicken?
“Chickens drink so much water in a day.
“The WaSH project twill open your door to go into chicken project.
“If you don’t have WaSH project in your village then it would be difficult for us to give you the chicken project because you do not meet the requirement of having clean water.
Maru added that the WaSH project would also help the communities to handle fresh fish when the Sengera to Yentchen road is complete and the district starts to buy and sell fish.
Maru called on all communities in the Yangoru Saussia District to have WaSH project so they don’t miss out on the upcoming projects.
“WaSH is an important project; it has multiplying effect.
“WaSH project will move you to go into chicken business, fresh fish business and other businesses be,” he said.
