NEW DAWN ON BOUGAINVILLE

301115VOLUNTARY TESTING
By Tom Kathoa
The general public is being asked to avail themselves for HIV & AIDS testing during the World HIV & AIDS Day tomorrow.
Officials representing HIV & AIDS office tomorrow’s testing would be free and voluntary.
They said the sickness is life threatening and the public is asked to refrain from participating in sexual practices that promotes it.
The officials say HIV & AIDS and sick T.B are similar and once a person is TB patient he/she is more likely to get HIV & AIDS as well.
IT is there important that we guard ourselves from viruses that carry those sicknesses.
The World HIV & AIDS Day will open at the Bel Isi Park tomorrow.
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301115RAPTILE CROWD
By Tom Kathoa
A ten foot crocodile was the center of attraction at the Buka Boat Stop this morning.
As market vendors and working public servants and private company employees got disembarked from their boats and PMV vehicles at the boat stop and main market, they were lured straight to a crowd who gathered around the reptile.
New Dawn Reporter on his way to work was told that the reptile was shot with a hunting spear at Suir last night.
The meat of the crocodile make delicious meal was sold for One-thousand kina.
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301115PROCESS & OUTCOME
By Tom Kathoa
The ABG Government has been living and operating under the Peace Agreement according to President, Chief Dr. John MOMIS.
President Momis urged the people of Bougainville to appreciate the hard work by those involved in the peace agreement.
He said the two important words in the Peace Agreement are Process and Outcome.
The president said the process will determine the outcome and this is exactly what his government is doing.
President Momis says his government is aiming for an outcome with integrity, and outcome that would be acceptable to all the people of Bougainville.
In order to achieve this, he is calling on the entire 41 members of the House of Representatives including the Speaker to work together as a team.
He is asking the two governments, National and ABG to respect what is contained in the Peace Agreement and not to be distracted by what happened before the conflict and other issues outside the agreement.
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301115OL ALERT ISTAP
By Tom Kathoa
People of Hagogohe Constituency are having sleepless nights practicing items for the coming Sasalan Hihikuma Festival.
The week-long festival to be staged at the Hamatana Primary School begins on the 14 of December and ends on the 18th.
People are rehearsing their items like solomon dances, singsing kaur, tsigul, string band, choirs and other such items of entertainment.
Cash prize would be awarded to top participating groups in each divisions or sections.
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301115NO MORE NO LESS
By Tom Kathoa
A research officer with the Bougainville Administration, Mr. John Numaken says it is a must that all Bougainvilleans reconcile among themselves before the conduct of the referendum.
He said the Bougainville conflict has caused a lot of disunity among the people and this must changed with unity.
Peace building and reconciliation must be realized with unifying the whole region before we enter referendum.
The loss of more than 20,000 lives during the Bougainville Conflict was for a reason and we must continue to push for our political future.
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301115IMPROVED LIVING
By Tom Kathoa
The introduction of the Forward Model Community by the Bougainville Catholic Church is reported to be bearing fruits.
Head of the Catholic Church in Bougainville, Bishop Bernard UNABALI revealed that the idea was trialed at SIRIPUKA Village in the Atamo area of EivoTorau Constituency.
The program is developed within the overall pastoral plan based on the need to strengthen the people’s religious life.
Bishop Unabali said the people of SIRIPUKA are now engaging in activities to improve their way of life including their spiritual behavior.
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301115CRITICAL PARTNERS
By Tom Kathoa
NON-Governmental organizations (NG0s) operating in Bougainville are important and critical partners in the development of the region.
First Secretary for DFAT, Mr. David Bloch speaking at the graduation of 29 students under NGO Care International, Peer Education program said he fully supports the approach by the ABG Health Department in relation to improving healthcare services and educating the people on sexual issues.
He said the NGO groups are here to assist the ABG Government with plans to make people healthy and be fully aware of the government’s move towards the conduct of referendum.
Training of the young people in all areas of life is very important, because they are the ones that would lead the region into the future.
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271115WORLD AIDS DAY
By Tom Kathoa
Preparations to celebrate the 2015, World Aids Day in Bougainville is progressing according to plan.
Bougainville Catholic Church HIV Aids Coordinator, Stella Morokana said the occasion would be celebrated throughout the region on the 1st of December, next month.
Mrs. Morokana said the first HIV case was diagnosed in 1997 during the early restoration period.
She said the region responded to that by setting up the first Bougainville Provincial Aids Council Committee in 2000 and two years later in 2002, the Catholic Church opened its own HIV AIDS Office.
Morokana said the exact number of HIV AIDS patients in Bougainville may not known, because of lack of counseling officers and also because people are not coming forward to be tested for the sickness.

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271115HEALTH VISION
By Tom Kathoa
The ABG health vision is to provide improved health and Long Life for all with women being the central focus of health development.
The health department recognizes women as the core of health development and vital segment of humanity for improving health status of people in any community.
ABG Health Minister, Dennis LOKONAI said women play a very important role in the health sector, both as the main uses of health services and as providers of health care within their families.
He said the health department is currently faced with issues like run down health facilities, understand, aging staffs, and financial constrains.
The Health Minister said the quality of the overall health service delivery is very much affected by these issues.
To improve this situation, the government and department have a plan which focuses on, Health facility improvement, human resource capacity building and the improved health outreach programs.
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271115ITSHIGH COCOA PRICE
By Tom Kathoa

Cocoa farmers in the Tinputz area of North Bougainville are cashing in on the good price offered for their product.
A cocoa field officer, Patrick GAIROBI says farmers in the Tinputz area are now receiving K800 for one bag of quality dried cocoa sold at the Chocolate Factory.
Mr. GAIROBI said generally the price of cocoa is at K500 per bag and this will continue to increase.
He is urging cocoa farmers throughout Bougainville to look after their cocoa gardens properly and to use proper fermentries and cocoa driers to attract the top price for their product.

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