By HARLYNE JOKU
A group of people including two girls who have symptoms of a strange disease spreading in a remote part of Goilala district, in the Central province as reported by Sunday Bulletin have travelled to Port Moresby to seek medical attention.
They were transported on a Helifix helicopter on Sunday afternoon from Ilade – Dilava in bad weather by pilot Captain Sam Onno.
“The sky was dark with heavy rain but the pilot flew down between the mountains over the river to land at Ilade. Passengers on board with a coffin disembarked and our group got on the chopper,” Gabriel Tumai the Spokesperson travelling with the group said.
Mr Tumai said because of the harsh terrain there is no road access and no medicine.
He said the sick struggled to walk from Kodege last Wednesday to the nearest helipad at Ilade at Dilava and waited for the chopper there.
“We are from the same house. Nine of us became sick last May. They had chest and stomach pains and their joints became numb, paralyzed. They find it hard to hold things and keep dropping them, they cannot walk for long distances.
“We had to support them to walk slowly on Wednesday. We crossed two rivers and one mountain- Mt Sela before reaching Ilade on Saturday to get on the helicopter,” Mr Tumai said.
The chopper was due on Saturday but because of bad weather the charter was deferred to Sunday.
On Sunday the weather was bad so three of the sick who were in a worse state stayed back. They were not able to get on the chopper. Only six got on.
A local businessman Cyril Simana who was concerned about the sick paid for the helicopter charter. Mr Simana said there are no health centres or service in their area.
He told the PNG Bulletin yesterday that he has given a report to the Provincial Health Authorities yesterday who responded positively.
“I will be flying in with the provincial health team tomorrow (Today). The health officers will check and treat the sick there,” a relieved Mr Simana said.
