Australia funds new water supply and sanitation project for Moroma village

Deputy Governor for Chimbu, James Kendial(left), joins community members in cheering on SPSN Field Program Coordinator, Harry Gubala(right) while he drinks from one the newly installed taps. Photo by Aina Kaupa, SPSN Hagen.

MORE than 4000 people from Moroma village in Chimbu Province can now lead healthier lives through access to an improved water supply and trainings on better sanitation, made possible by the Australian Government.

The water supply and sanitation project was supported through the Australian Government’s Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program which provided a community development grant of K46,000 to the Kuglyani Self-Support Group who implemented the project.

Like most rural communities in Papua New Guinea, access to clean water for cooking, drinking and cleaning has always been difficult in Moroma.

Water collection is challenging and often a gruelling chore, especially when this task is usually left to the women and children of a household. Water collection points are often far from home and difficult to reach.

For the Moroma village, population expansion has forced many families to share one water source which has in the past resulted in the spread of sickness and caused disputes amongst villagers.

These harsh realities are known to the women of Moroma and is one of the reasons why the Kuglyani Self-Support Group (made up mostly of women from the area) was formed.

On March 29 2014, the village celebrated the completion of 16 new water taps, an upgraded dam with the installation of three 9,000 litre water tanks, and new pipes running through the village. This was an upgrade to the existing water supply infrastructure built under another Australian Government funded program in 2004.

Kauna Girua, Chairperson of Kuglyani Self-Support Group is thankful for the assistance from the Australian government.

Kauna tells in tokpisin: “Hevi bilong painim na karim wara i kam long haus long lukautim famili em yumi olgeta save, em i hatpela wok tumas, tasol wara em bikpela samting long laif bilong yumi. Nau long dispela de mi gat bikpela hamamas na laik tok tenku i go long ol pipol bilong Australia long helivim yumi long stretim dispela hevi bilong yumi”

(“The burden of looking for and carrying water for our families to use is, as we all know is hard work but water is an important necessity in our lives. Today, I am very happy and thankful to the people of Australia for helping us ease our water woes.”)

Rose Miunge, a visually impaired woman from the community, is also excited about the new water supply. For many years, her family has collected water from wells for her.

“Mi hamamas nogut tru bikos nau wara em i kam klostu stret long haus dua bilong mi na mi na famili bilong mi i no inap wokabout go longwe long kisim wara bilong dring, kuk na waswas,” said Rose in Tokpisin

(“I am very happy because now my family and I can have access to clean safe water closer to our doorstep so we don’t have to walk very far to get water for cooking, drinking and washing.”)

SPSN Field Program Coordinator Harry Gubala commended the community’s efforts toward the successful completion of the project.

“You have demonstrated your commitment to the project through your 10 percent contribution of K3,110 but that is nothing compared to the hard work, time and resources you and your community have put into this project so that more than 4000 people can have access to a new and improved water supply” said Mr Gubala

He said the Australian Government is committed to improving lives for communities across Papua New Guinea, but these communities must be equally determined to ensure that these projects deliver and achieve the results they want to achieve.

“We also hope that your project will make your community a much healthier place to live for all men, women and children with clean and improved water supply that will alleviate the burden of water collection chores for the elderly, women and children in your households” said Mr Gubala

Mr Gubala encourages the community to sustain the project so it continues to benefit as many people as possible in the future.