PM O’Neill Foundation Opens Three More Was Was Haus

The Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O’Neill CMG MP, has revealed his inspiration to build Was Was Haus (wash house) for the people of Papua New Guinea, saying that his own friends and relatives have died because of poor hygiene conditions.

The Prime Minister shared this personal background at the opening of three more Was Was Haus that have been built by the PM O’Neill Foundation in Port Moresby communities.
“Preventing death and sickness as a result of inadequate sanitation is a personal quest of mine to improve health and hygiene,” Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neil said

“Building these Was Was Hauses is an aspiration I embraced from growing up through all the hardships in a remote village in the Southern Highlands Province.

“I have lost several friends and relatives to preventable sicknesses caused by poor hygiene conditions such as the use of filthy toilets and a lack of health facilities.

“This is not good enough and in the modern world we must do all we can to improve hygiene.

“Now our foundation is leading by example and building Was Was Hauses for our people that we will expand around the country.

“When people go to a Was Was Haus they can use showers or toilets that are maintained by the community.

“They can wash before work and have a level of cleanliness that is very important for their long-term health.

“When we build a Was Was Haus we know that children benefit because parents can wash their children in a safe environment and help avoid childhood sicknesses.

“Women are also much safer when they know they can use a Was Was Huas that offers security and a place where they can take care of personal issues in a clean environment.

“We will continue to build more of these Was Was Haus facilities so that our people can lead healthier lives.”

The Was Was Hauses opened by the Prime Minister on Thursday were built by the Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill Foundation at a cost of K250,000 each at the ATS Settlement in Eight Mile, Korobosea Village and Hanuabada Village.

At a Government level, the Prime Minister said health and safety are at the centre of the Government’s commitment to communities in Papua New Guinea.

“Our government believes in promoting free healthcare and safety, holding them as our main priorities alongside education and infrastructure.

“An educated and a healthier population improves our living standards,” Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said.