By CHARLIE DUMAVI
AN outbreak of fever in the remote Kira Local Level Government in Oro Province has claimed the lives of five children and an elderly man in less than a week.
The deceased children range from 5-6 years old. They suffered from the fever but could not get any medical assistance as the aid post in the area is no longer in operation and that has seen the children succumbed to death.
A local who is now working around the clock to seek assistance said, the fever symptoms started in late December 2022, which resulted in the death of an elderly man. The symptoms started after a two weeks church crusade held in Avihasa, Oro. The crusade was attended by believers from Lae. The fever is now in its worst stage.
Arthur Sumugau told Sunday Bulletin that the first child died on Friday January 13, second one on Saturday January 14, and third on Monday January 15, 2023. There was a death on Tuesday January 17 and the recent one on Wednesday January 18, 2023.
He explained that all of the deceased suffered from fever with: dry cough, head ache, vomiting, swollen face and red eyes, uncontrollable flatulate and rapid loss of weight.
Mr Samugau along with some of the locals from the area are seeking assistance from Oro Provincial Health Authority, (OPHA) but have received information that there is not enough medicine in stock and funding to assist the locals in the area.
Moreover, several attempts by Sunday Bulletin to get response from OPHA were unsuccessful.
“I was there (in Kira) and when I left home on Thursday January 12, 2023, I received news that the children started dying. The outbreak started in ward four and is now spreading into the neighboring wards and also into ward 16 in Wau-Waria, Morobe,” Mr Sumugau said.
“It’s the first of its kind for the locals to experience such sickness. The villagers used herbs and all sorts of bush medicine but could not cure the disease, only way is for the government to step in. This afternoon (Friday January 20, 2023) I received message that three more children are in critical condition. I don’t know if they are going to see tomorrow or not. There is nothing that can save them. There is no health worker in Kira and Garasa and the people are confused what type of sickness is this,” he said.
He added that the distressful villagers are in need and are appealing to OPHA to immediately send a medical team to assist with the situation.
He said he just got in touch with the local Sohe District MP Mr Henry Amuli and was instructed to enquire with the airline company and send a quotation to him.
However, Sumugau said the fever is rapidly throughout the Waria-Garaina valley and the medical specialists needs to be there this weekend or more people will die.
Moreover, the locals are also calling on the OPHA to re-establish government presence in the area and revive basic government services like aid post to help the people there.
Kira LLG has no road link and it takes about seven walking days through rugged Owen Stanley range to reach Popondetta and three days walk to the nearest coast of Huon Gulf to catch a boat ride to Lae, Morobe Province. The quickest way out of there is by plane, but it again depends on the number of people traveling. Planes don’t go there unless it is fully booked or chartered.
