Six warm-weather crops for your vegetable garden

In Papua New Guinea, the weather is warm all year-round, and you can start your vegetable garden at your backyard.
But what garden plants should you grow?
Here is a list of six must-have warm weather plants for your vegetable garden.

Hot Peppers

Peppers are great plants to grow in your garden.
Why?
They are a main ingredient in salsa and hot sauces.
Even the peppers that are mildly hot can be used in the kitchen.
Peppers can be dried through traditional methods such as tying up, much like herbs, or slow roasting them on low heat in the oven for a few hours.
The peppers can then be ground up into spices.
 Cayenne is a popular pepper to dry and use ground up.
Peppers are easy to grow even if you have a shorter growing season than some.
Hot peppers tend to take a little longer than the sweet peppers (such as banana and bell peppers) and are better to start seeds inside or start by transplants.
They are similar to tomatoes in growth and likes and dislikes.
Not many pests affect peppers, as the leaves and stems are quite nasty and are toxic to most creatures when ingested.

Tomatoes

There is nothing like a ripe, red, juicy tomato, or even a few cherry tomatoes or some green and yellow tomatoes.
Red is just the traditional color everyone thinks of when they hear about tomatoes.
But the other colors are quite tasty and great in pastas.
Tomatoes are quite easy to grow.
In most cases, starting the seeds inside under grow lights or buying transplants is the way to grow the best tomatoes.
Tomatoes like warm climates and do not tolerate frost well even when well established.
Cherry tomatoes are a fun tomato to grow.
Cherry tomatoes are like miniature tomatoes.
They are small and usually very sweet.
They are fun to grow in containers and great to use in salads or as a snack for the kids.

Squash (and Family)

These are probably the easiest of the vegetables to grow, especially when the weather is very warm.
 They are warm weather crops and don’t tolerate frost well. But they love the warmth of the color black and often grow vigorously when planted in old tires.
Zucchini are in the squash family and are very similar in culture to squash.
 There are many varieties of squash including the winter squash which matures later.
Pumpkins are closely related and also do well in tires and containers.
Take an old tire and fill in with soil.
A good soil mixture would contain amounts of perlite or vermiculite to help moisture retention.
Since these plants are planted during the hot summer season, they will need lots of moisture retention properties.
 Mound up the soil in the center of the tire and plop in three to four squash seeds.

Cucumbers

Fresh cucumbers from the garden are a wonderful addition to your salad or even just as they are.
They are similar to squash in that they love warm weather.
You can grow the cucumbers, like the squash, in tires and in mounds of soil.
There are two main types of cucumbers: the vining ones and the bush types.
The vining cucumbers will vigorously produce in the best conditions.
They might produce all summer long.
They might also need some sort of trellis to grow on or a long piece of yard since they vine out everywhere. Better yet, grow your cucumbers along with your corn and they will use your corn stalks as a pole to climb on.
That way you don't waste space.
The bush type cucumbers grow in bush fashion, only growing so high and so wide when they produce. These cucumbers are great for container gardening or if you don’t have a lot of space.

Beans

Beans are wonderful to grow and there is so much taste in fresh green beans.
There are many varieties of beans that you can grow.
Pole beans can grow quite tall and get out of hand if not ready for their vigorous vining growth.
They will need some sort of support. A pole bean tower is recommended.
This tower is a six foot (or higher) tower that allows the beans to climb up the tower in a smaller area. It makes it easier to harvest the beans.
Bush beans are beans that don't quite grow as prolific as their pole bean counterparts, but they can produce just as much if the conditions are right. Bush beans are great for containers and smaller areas.
While green beans are the most popular, beans do come in many shapes and sizes, even colors.
 Harvest regularly to get the most out of beans.
They will be ready to harvest in as little as 60 days from planting.
 If you want smaller yet extended harvests of the beans, then succession planting is recommended. Succession planting is planting a row, then waiting about two to three weeks, and planting another row. That way, the rows will mature and produce at different times, giving an extended harvest.

Corn

Corn is planted by seed usually in rows.
Corn does better if a lot is planted.
At least a five-foot plot is recommended to get the best results and best pollination rates.
 Corn self-pollinates but it needs other corn near it to do so, so it is vital to have several rows of corn.
Corn growth is dictated by large amounts of space, but there is corn that is better for smaller spaces.
This corn doesn’t grow quite as tall or long as the other varieties.
Push the corn seed at least a half inch into the ground.
This helps avoid common pests such as birds and other seed eating creatures.
Cover the seeds and make sure the corn is kept watered.
Don't let it dry out.
Plant the corn at least six inches apart in the row with the rows about 10 inches apart.
More space is recommended for disease and pest control.
In a more controllable environment such as a container, however, the rows and plants can be sown closer together.
There are many varieties of corn with a common one being the sweet corn variety.

Making money from your flowers

Caption: Mrs Bertha Kamit is actively involved in promoting the  floriculture industry.

By VERONICA MANUK

Floriculture, or flower farming, is an industry that has been dormant for years and needs to be revived.
This is according to Bertha Kamit, an extension officer with the division of primary industry in East New Britain, who says one can earn a lot from the floriculture industry if more effort is put into it.
Mrs Kamit graduated from Papua New Guinea’s oldest tertiary institution, Popondetta Agriculture Training Institute - now a campus of the University of Vudal - in 1980 and joined the division of primary industry at Kokopo as a nutrition officer.
She resigned in 1984 due to family commitments and returned to work in 1991 as an extension officer with Pomio district.
As an extension officer, she has been involved in many activities such as the eradication of cocoa pod borer, Newcastle disease, Women in Agriculture and many others.
Her commitment and hard work brought her to attend the launching of floriculture in Port Moresby in 2006.
“My interest began to build up so I started developing my backyard with flower planting and decorations in offices,” Mrs Kamit said.
Her backyard attracted and motivated a lot of people, especially women.
With the knowledge she gained, she ran workshops and training for women in the province.
Apart from beautifying homes and offices, Mrs Kamit says flowers are also given as gifts and used at important events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, graduation ceremonies and shows.
Floriculture also provides a good income.
For instance, she charges K200 for backyard planting, while gifts and decorations for different occasions have their own fees.
She also has pot plants that can be hired for decorations of venues.
Mrs Kamit is grateful for the agricultural training she received that has enabled her to be successful in her hobby.
“I thank the college and the people who had trained me to become a successful woman,” she said.
Floriculture, according to Wikepedia, is a discipline of horticulture concerned with the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and for floristry, comprising the floral industry.
“The development plant breeding of new varieties is a major occupation of floriculturists,” it says.
“Floriculture crops include bedding plants, flowering plants, foliage plants or houseplants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers.
“As distinguished from nursery crops, floriculture crops are generally herbaceous. “Bedding and garden plants consist of young flowering plants (annuals and perennials) and vegetable plants.
“They are grown in cell packs (in flats or trays), in pots, or in hanging baskets, usually inside a controlled environment, and sold largely for gardens and landscaping. “Geraniums, impatiens, and petunias are the best-selling bedding plants. “Chrysanthemums are the major perennial garden plant in the United States.
“Flowering plants are largely sold in pots for indoor use.
“The major flowering plants are poinsettias, orchids, florist chrysanthemums, and finished florist azaleas.
“Foliage plants are also sold in pots and hanging baskets for indoor and patio use, including larger specimens for office, hotel, and restaurant interiors.
“Cut flowers are usually sold in bunches or as bouquets with cut foliage.
“The production of cut flowers is specifically known as the cut flower industry.
“Farming flowers and foliage employs special aspects of floriculture, such as spacing, training and pruning plants for optimal flower harvest; and post-harvest treatment such as chemical treatments, storage, preservation and packaging.
“In Australia and the United States some species are harvested from the wild for the cut flower market.”

Port Moresby General Hospital over its limits: Heatlh Minister

By WALLACE KIALA

THE Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGH) cannot cater for the city’s expanding population, Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Sasa Zibe said last Friday, The National reports.

Therefore, the Health Department and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) were working in collaboration to improve and expand four clinics in the suburbs, he said.

Speaking during the swearing-in of the hospital’s new board, Mr Zibe said the hospital did not have the required resources to function effectively and fulfil its expected role and responsibility.

He said the national hospital was currently providing medical services way beyond its scope; it was serving a population far larger than its capabilities.

At the moment it is serving the NCD, Central and Gulf provinces.

Mr Zibe said POMGH was a national referral hospital and a teaching hospital and should set best clinical and medical practices where young people learn the right attitudes of being a doctor, a nurse or an allied health worker.

He said the Health Department reforms, which were being carried out in collaboration with the NCDC, were of importance to POMGH.

To ensure sound public health management, a team led by Dr Timothy Pyakalyia had been assigned to work with NCDC to provide professional advisory support.

Under this strategy, it is envisioned that the four urban clinics at Hanuabada, Gerehu, Kaugere and Nine-Mile would be upgraded to be able to perform normal deliveries and to focus on overall maternal and child health services as well as minor illnesses.

“If all goes well, this arrangement would ensure fewer burdens on POMGH, allowing it to focus on its core functions,” Mr Zibe said.

The new board members sworn in included deputy chairman and community representative Rahe Maraki, Rev Somi Setu (church rep), Robin Yanapa (NCDC) and Dr Sylvester Kotapu (Central provincial health).

Current chairman Sir Brian Bell and business community representative Cathy Johnston and women’s representative Sose Tamarua were reappointed to the board.

The ceremony was witnessed by Health secretary Dr Clement Malau, his deputy Dr Paison Dakulala, POMGH chief executive officer Dr Alphonse Tay and senior Health Department and hospital staff.

Meanwhile, Sir Brian called on Mr Zibe to fast-track the disbursement of more than K20 million approved by the Government for infrastructure development and maintenance of major facilities at the hospital.

Sir Brian said work on major hospital projects had been stalled due to lack of funding.

He said that since the hospital was functioning as a primary, secondary and tertiary health care facility and a national referral teaching hospital, the board’s plea for increase in manpower and other resources must be given high priority.

 

Don't lose golden opportunity

By Dr TANA KIAK

Xiangya, China

 

I REFER to the report “Doctors attacked” (The National, Feb 17).

I am shocked and ashamed of the incident.

As a local medical doctor from Hela studying overseas, it truly saddens me to read of such a barbaric attack on foreign medical volunteers who have, in the last few months, devoted their time, skills, effort and expertise for free to provide valuable medical care to the people of Hela.

Such medical health services had been missing for the last 15 years.

I condemn the hospital security guard for attacking hospital staff.

Before Tari Hospital had Dr Bravy Koensong as CEO and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) volunteers, my mum would call me to ask what drugs to prescribe for patients when she was on-call at the hospital.

We had patients not only from the Hela region but also from Mendi, Hagen, Wabag, Kudjip and even Goroka.

Before I came to Xiangya, China, to further my studies, I had to treat all sorts of problems, ranging from medical to paediatric to gynaecological and obstetrics.

The situation has now improved with the presence of the CEO and MSF volunteers.

We had been crying out for services and now that we have them, please look after them.

Such golden opportunity comes only once.

How can we guarantee the safety of our local doctors and those from overseas?

This is a serious question and the leaders of Hela must think carefully.

We cannot afford to have such “attitude” problems.

As a medical professional from the Hela region, I would like to convey my sincere apology to the MSF team.

I also would like to congratulate them for the job well done so far.

The incident did not really show the true colours of the people of Hela.

I hope this incident will not drive the MSF team away.

The people of Hela are behind the team.

Finally, the culprit must face the full force of the law.

 

Enforce taxi meter ruling

By DAVID KOMBAKO, Port Moresby

 

I REFER to the installation of taxi meters.

I am a regular taxi user and since the ruling came into effect at the beginning of this year, I’ve come to realise that there is a “sinister” practice by certain taxi drivers to conceal their meters with pieces of cloth so that passengers will not be able to see them.

Why are taxi drivers concealing their meters from passengers?

What is the motive?

Why are they questioning the legality of a policy initiated by the duly constituted authority (ICCC) to regulate public transportation?

I asked a couple of drivers about the meters in taxis and I got conflicting replies.

“The meter is an expensive instrument that will keep the small people from using taxis.”

I am not sure if this is true.

 For example, for taxis without meters, I pay K30 from airport to Waigani but only K20 for those with meters.

Obviously something fishy is going on.

Can the ICCC and the National Road Safety Council look into this and enforce the meter policy?

Flush out raskols

By CONCERNED, Mt Hagen

I refer to the letter “Genoka, a refuge for criminals” (The National, Feb 18).

I was recently in Goroka and saw first hand that raskols, after committing a crime, headed straight for Genoka settlement.

Unfortunately, no one went after them, not even the police.

Something must be done to stop criminal activities in our peaceful province.

I call on to the authorities and the Police Commissioner to look seriously into the matter.

Otherwise, we are chasing investors and tourists away.

 Lets us make Eastern Highlands a trouble-free and peaceful province.

Koki crossings dangerous

BY JONATHAN KUIMBE, Port Moresby

I CALL on NCD Governor Powes Parkop to look into building an overhead bridge at Koki.

The two current crossings are very dangerous and, sooner or later, someone will be killed.

 

The truth will prevail

By SHAN-LIN CHEN, Trade Mission of Taiwan representative

 

ON behalf of the government of Taiwan, I am writing in response to an article entitled “Opposition demands action on Taiwan scandal” (The National, Jan 15).

 Taiwan is a democratic country and its independent judiciary is currently conducting a full and thorough investigation into the case mentioned in the article.

My government, therefore, has every confidence that truth and justice will prevail.

As Taiwan’s representative, I will naturally be providing all relevant information to the Government as soon as the final verdict is delivered.

Time to flatten Genoka

By AMBO

 

Goroka is turning into a haven for lawlessness and fast becoming a cowboy town.

Genoka is one such place that accommodates thugs and criminals.

I wonder whether the Goroka administration has the power to barricade Genoka.

 It should give the settlers the ultimatum to leave on their own or they would be forced out.

After that, the settlement should be flattened.

The peace-loving people of Goroka are fed up with these criminals.

 We want to live in peace.

So sad many smart students miss out

By WAIMIN WASIA

 

MANY brilliant students in the country are missing out every year because of the school fee problem.

It is very sad to see thousands of brilliant students, especially from poor families, leaving universities and colleges every year with tears streaming down from their eyes.

Is that how PNG will improve its human resource and move forward?

The Government must subsidise some of the school fees because human resource is vital for the development of this nation.

The Government is not allocating enough money to education, particularly OHE.

As a result, many tertiary students were missing out on HECAS although they met the requirements.

The Government must strive to produce marketable intellectuals instead of sending young talented Papua New Guineans as cheap labour to neighbouring countries.

PNG must be competent with the rest of the world.

Because of its negligence in education, PNG is far behind in world education standard.

Update from Bulo MP Sam Basil in Australia

Last Saturday Bulolo MP Sam Basil’s guide from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Tim Morris accompanied him to Kwinana outside Perth to witness a traditional ceremony.

“The elder of the Yargon tribe Trevor Wally gave a fire gift to me after the fire ceremony witnessed by the Kwinana deputy mayor Dennis Woods,” Mr Basil said.

“A gift was also presented by the deputy mayor and I presented three Bulolo bilums to the officials.

“On Sunday we flew from Perth to Karratha from where I am currently visiting landowners and affected communities asking questions and doing comparison with PNG systems and the Australian indigenous system.”

 

Bulolo MP Sam Basil travels to Australia

Bulolo MP Sam Basil has done it again.

Mr Basil, who recently returned from the USA after attending the inauguration of President Barrack Obama, left for Australia last Friday for a weeklong visit at the invitation of the Australian government.

He returns on March 1.

Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis announced the trip in the presence of Mr Basil at a press conference last Thursday.

Mr Moraitis said the programme, known as the Australian Special Visitors Programme, was aimed at “up-and-coming” people such as Mr Basil to visit and give them a “very good insight” into the country.

He said Mr Basil would visit Western Australian, Victoria and Canberra meeting with politicians, parliamentary secretaries, and business houses such as Newcrest, a joint venture partner with Harmony in the Hidden Valley gold mine in Wau.

Previous PNG beneficiaries of the programme, which has been run over many years, include politicians Paul Tienstien and Sam Abal, and journalist Frank Senge Kolma, among many others.

“We hope Sam (Basil) has a good visit there,” Mr Moraitis said.

“We’re happy to do that before Parliament resumes in March.”

Mr Basil said it was an honour for his Bulolo electorate to travel overseas so soon after his visit to the USA.

“I’m very fortunate to go overseas this time, this time to Australia,” he said.

“This trip will really help me to understand Australia.”

Mr Basil gave a vote of thanks to the Australian government, through its High Commission, for making the trip possible.

 

Over 100 UK companies seek PNG partners

Over 100 United Kingdom companies are seeking business partners in Papua New Guinea.

UK Exporters Ltd, a Bristol-based company that runs a database of over 18,500 UK exporters, has listed 136 companies that are looking for business partners in PNG.

They are generally seeking new business, agents and distributors or are hoping to add to their customer-base in the region.

The companies range from manufacturers of fuel flow modulators and cleaning chemicals to chocolate and biscuit makers.

Each UK company listed has a direct link to their company profile which show all the products or services they are offering.

Each individual company may be contacted direct from their company profile which includes their e-mail and web addresses.

Interested PNG companies can access their details from the UK Exporters Ltd website http://www.exportuk.co.uk/agents.asp or via the British High Commission Website http://www.ukinpng.fco.gov.uk

The UK companies’ interest in business opportunities in PNG follows the recent announcement by the London and Port Moresby Stock Exchange-listed New Britain Palm Oil (NBPOL) to build a £18 million (K68 million) palm oil processing facility in the UK.

UK High Commissioner to PNG, David Dunn, said that whilst the world was experiencing a global trade downturn the interest in PNG showed by UK companies was an indication of the strong and growing commercial relationship between the two countries.

“The NBPOL investment is excellent news for the UK and is a further indication of the deepening commercial relationship between the two countries. The UK is PNG's fourth largest commercial partner and the clear destination of choice for PNG inward investment to Europe,” he added.

Copies of the UK Exporters List for PNG have also been passed on to the PNG Investment Promotion Authority (IPA).

Thought for today

Crime and bad lives are the measure of a State's failure, all crime in the end is the crime of the community.

H.G. Wells (1866-1946)

PS: The thought is very much applicable to the current situation in Papua New Guinea.

 

Vital to conduct sorcery awareness

By PS TOKO, Madang

 

Sorcery-related killings are on the rise, especially in the Highlands provinces, and I believe that is just the beginning.

Since the turn of this century, many great people have died.

Somehow, their deaths were linked to sorcery.

People are fed up with sorcery and were now taking a bold stand to torture and kill sorcerers.

Such unjustified killings must be condemned.

The Government is taking the right approach to stop sorcery-related killings.

But, what if such claims are true?

We must be aware that sorcery is related to spiritualism.

How can you prove that the sorcerer is the murderer and is responsible for the killing?

Sorcery is associated with supernatural powers and spiritual things cannot be discerned with physical things.

Even doctors cannot explain the cause of it medically and scientifically.

On the other hand, steps must be taken to eradicate glasman as they are bogus.

These people are responsible for the deaths of many innocent people.

The law must be tough on these people.

Papua New Guineans must understand that sorcery was part of our culture.

It was there before our forefathers came into contact with the Western culture.

It was only used when needed, especially on their enemies.

But as the Western culture made its presence felt, so did wealth and transport system, leading to a widespread practice of sorcery because it was one of the fastest and easiest ways to make a fortune.

Unfortunately, many people were now taking the opportunity to kill others under the guise of sorcery.

As such, apart from the judicial system, the Government must also use education and religion to break down sorcery.

Awareness programmes must be conducted immediately in the Highlands provinces.

As sorcery is ingrained in our culture, it will take time to change the people’s beliefs, but I believe it can be done.

'Witches' put to death in Papua New Guinea as mob rule takes hold

By RICHARD LLOYD PARRY, Asia Editor, Times Online

 

They are burnt, stoned, slashed, poisoned or hanged. They range from the young to the elderly and more often than not they are women. Often they are killed by mobs of men but sometimes they face kangaroo courts. They are the “sorcerers” of Papua New Guinea — victims of a literal witch-hunt in one the world's poorest and most isolated countries.

There have been more than 50 murders in recent months of people accused of practising black magic, according to human rights organisations. Authorities appear helpless to intervene although the Government has ordered a parliamentary commission to spend a year investigating ways to prevent witch-hunts, which arise from a tragic combination of tribalism, underdevelopment and superstition.

“When dozens of people have been killed, it's clear that the Government is not doing enough to protect its own citizens and maintain the rule of law,” said Apolosi Bose, of Amnesty International.

The persecution of the practitioners of black magic has a long history here in the eastern half of the vast tropical island of New Guinea, north of Australia. Media reports suggest, however, that in the past year it has become an epidemic, especially in the Highlands region, parts of which had their first contact with Westerners only as recently as 70 years ago.

Last Sunday a father and son were burnt alive close to Mount Hagen, the capital of Western Highlands province, after neighbours accused the older man of causing the death of a local leader by sorcery. In January a young woman was burnt alive on a pyre of rubber tyres after being accused of witchcraft and of passing on HIV/Aids to men with whom she had extramarital affairs. One married couple escaped a lynch mob when the pregnant wife began to give birth as she was being hanged from a tree.

Last Friday a court in the town of Lae sentenced Wilson Okore, 29, to 50 years in jail after he hacked to death a forest warden for allegedly using spells to give a woman colleague headaches.

Accusations of witchcraft sometimes seem to be the pretext for the settling of local scores, and tend to be made by families who have lost a loved one to a disease without an obvious cause. Often this is cancer or, increasingly, Aids-related illnesses, which are spread by prostitution, scant use of condoms and high rates of rape and sexual violence against women. Victims of witch-hunts are often women who have married into a community from another tribe and who lack kinsmen of their own to defend or avenge them.

The objective existence of black magic is enshrined in Papua New Guinea's 1976 Sorcery Act, which permits white magic but punishes the black variety with up to two years in jail. The country's police force is poorly trained, poorly resourced and riddled with corruption, so witch-hunters have a good chance of escaping punishment.

“People often don't trust the police or the judiciary and instead blame events on supernatural causes and punish suspected sorcerers,” said Mr Bose.

 

 

MP calls for ban on beer in Tari

By ANDREW ALPHONSE

KOMO-Margarima MP Francis Potape will petition the Southern Highlands provincial executive council (PEC) this week to impose a total liquor ban in Tari and the Hela region, The National reports.

Mr Potape made the call after a drunken youth assaulted and attacked medical officers from the international medical organisation, Medecine Sans Frontiers (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, at the Tari Hospital last Saturday evening.

Mr Potape, who was in Tari last weekend, was angered by the manner in which the drunken youth, who is a casual employee with the MSF at the hospital, attacked the female and male expatriate MSF officers before damaging the windshield of their vehicle. Mr Potape said the action of one person had tarnished the good name of all Tari and Hela people.

The MP fronted up at the Tari police station on Sunday afternoon demanding the policemen to have the culprit arrested and charged immediately.

Mr Potape said the MSF officers had been offering their services free of charge to the Hela population since mid-last year and the manner in which they were assaulted by a drunkard had brought shame and humiliation to the Hela people and their leaders.

Mr Potape met with Tari Hospital chief executive officer Dr Bravy Koensong on Sunday and tried in vain to stop the MSF officers leaving for Port Moresby.

He said the action of one man had made thousands of Hela people suffer.

Police in Tari said the suspect was arrested and locked up at the police cells on Monday.

Mr Potape said he would petition the PEC meeting this week to immediately impose a liquor ban in Tari and Hela.

He also called for security measures at the hospital to be improved.

Meanwhile, Dr Koensong said the MSF staff were evacuated upon advice from their boss in Port Moresby while their representatives would travel to Tari today to meet with the hospital management and local leaders, including police, to see how best they could address the problem.

Dr Koensong said the delivery of health services to Tari and Hela had greatly improved with the presence of the MSF doctors at the hospital

 

Zibe: Work with health volunteers

By WALLACE KIALA

 

HEALTH and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe has condemned attacks on two Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) volunteers working at the Tari Hospital in Southern Highlands province last weekend, The National reports.

Mr Zibe called on the community in Tari to respect the work of MSF volunteers and other development partners and local workers striving to bring much-needed health services to the area.

“I will not hesitate to close the hospital if such unethical behaviours against our health workers continue,” Mr Zibe warned.

He also called on community leaders to deal with law and order problems and “educate their people to cooperate, respect and work with development partners and our national doctors and nurses”.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Zibe met with MFS head of mission Marc Galinier to convey his apologies on behalf of the Government and people of PNG for the senseless behaviour of a drunkard.

Tari hospital chief executive officer Dr Bravy Koensong confirmed yesterday that the community was contributing money to fix the damaged MFS vehicle,

He said the people would also slaughter pigs and say sorry to the doctors.

Tari police said the offender had been arrested and charged.

Mr Galinier would travel to Tari today to meet with a reconciliation party.

He said while MSF appreciated the gesture as a step forward to have the volunteers back in the district hospital, he would also inform the community that the volunteers would not accept any cash or material goods.

“We do not want to promote stigmatisation and discrimination from this incident, although it is sad for all of us that this happened.

“Whatever is given as gifts to us, we will tell the community that they could instead donate them to unfortunate members of the community,” Mr Galinier said.

He said the team was prepared to go back to Tari, but he would advise them on when to do so when he returned to Port Moresby.

700 homeless

Waghi River bursts its banks in Dei

 

By SENT TIMBI

 

MORE than 700 people in the Dei area of Western Highlands province are homeless after the Waghi River burst its banks in the early hours of yesterday, The National reports.

The flooding was caused by heavy rain in the area, but villagers were also pointing fingers at road construction work being carried out in the area.

Mothers and their children grabbed whatever they could and scrambled to safety as the water level rose, partially submerging their homes.

It was estimated that about 25ha of land was under water, including food gardens and cash crops. Domesticated animals like pigs and other livestock were lost as the mighty river burst its banks, and began flooding the area around 2am while people were still asleep.

In the area visited by The National, 26 houses including a building belonging to the Catholic church were partially under water.

The flood hit the village near the Waghi Bridge at the Kondopina area at the border of Dei and Anglimp-South Waghi districts.

Most people living there are originally from the Simbu province. They have lived in the area for the last 42 years.

They told The National that this was one of the worst natural disasters they had ever encountered.

Community leader Gabriel Nolai wanted two construction companies working in the area and the Works Department to accept some of the blame for the flooding in the area, saying they had failed to provide a culvert to drain out excess water.

Mr Nolai said with the food gardens gone, people were likely to face starvation. They would also be exposed to waterborne diseases.

He appealed for outside help.

Ward councillor Yer Bom also said the disaster was the worst ever experienced by his people.

Frustrated villagers yesterday morning stopped eight trucks and machinery owned by a construction company from moving through the area.

Heavy rain in the Highlands was causing flooding in parts of the region, destroying food gardens and tree crops, and leaving people homeless.

It is understood the heavy rain and tidal surges in the coastal areas are associated with the La Nina weather pattern.

 

Lowering heart disease rates

IN this continuous awareness campaign to mark National Heart Month, we take a look at some risk factors that causes heart diseases.

Quit smoking: Smoking is the largest preventative cause of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and a major cause of mouth and throat cancer. Heart disease rates are 70% higher for smokers that non-smokers.

Control diabetes: Diabetes is considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. People with diabetes can reduce their health risk by modifying their other risk for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, excess weight and high blood cholesterol levels.

Maintain a healthy body weight: People who are overweight or obese are at risk of developing high blood pressure, high blood lipids and diabetes-all of which put them at high risk of cardiovascular or heart disease. Working to reach and maintain a healthy weight is a good way to prevent heart disease. You can achieve a healthy weight through healthy eating and active living, including exercising regularly.

Keep blood pressure at healthy levels: Losing excess weight, exercising, eating healthy, reducing salt intake and taking time to relax and manage stress levels will all help to influence blood pressure. You should have your blood pressure checked regularly; you can to your doctor’s office or even to your local drug store.

Keep cholesterol at healthy levels: Several major studies have shown that lowering blood cholesterol levels reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. Some research suggests that atherosclerosis (the build up of fatty materials, calcium and scar tissue in the arteries) may be stopped and even reversed if cholesterol levels are sharply lowered. The first step in lowering cholesterol is modifying your diet to reduce total fat consumption. There is evidence that increasing the amount of fiber is also beneficial. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and smoke free are also very important in controlling blood cholesterol.

Learn to manage stress: Stress is often associated with unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, overeating, excessive drinking and worrying. Practice some stress management techniques such as meditation or deep breathing to reduce stress. Exercise is also great for relieving stress. Also laughter has been shown to reduce the risk of suffering a second heart attack. A recent study supports the old saying that laughter is the best medicine. It found that hearty laughs helped heart patients prevent another attack. Only 10% of those in the study who laughed 30minutes each day suffered another attack while 30% of those in the study who did not laugh had another attack.