ExxonMobile PNG refurbish 55 year old Health Center

EMPNG’s Hides Gas Conditioning Plant senior field
superintendent Ken Rhyasonand Sr. Agnes Yanari
cut the flower lace to officially mark the handover of the
health centre

ExxonMobil PNG, operator of the PNG LNG project in partnership with the Evangelic Church of Papua New Guinea (ECPNG) has renovated parts of the BenariaSub-Health Centre located in the Komo Magarima District of Hela Province.

Built in the 1960s, the health centre serves over 17,000 people of Benaria Village and the surrounding communities.

Run by the ECPNG Mission, it is the only health service in Benaria Awatangi region with the nearest public hospital being Tari Hospital, an hour drive from Benaria.

This was the first time maintenance and plumbing work was done on the health center since it was built 55 years ago.

About K53,000 was spent on the maintenance work which comprised of solar lighting, plumbing to ensure running water and refurbishment of the dispensary. It took four weeks to be completed. A new high frequency emergency radio antenna will be installed soon.

EMPNG recentlyhanded over the facility to the local communities to serve the people once again.

EMPNG’s Hides Gas Conditioning Plant senior field superintendent Ken Rhyason,who attended the ceremony said, “Health is one of the priority focus areas for ExxonMobil PNG’s community investment programs”.

“We believe that by investing in community initiatives such as the refurbishment of the Benaria Sub-Health Center, we can help improve the standard of living for the local community and the country,” Rhyason said.

He added that ExxonMobil was proud to assist the community and encouraged the people to utilise the facility and to take good care of it.

Meanwhile, ECPNG health advisor James Robin thanked EMPNG for renovating the health center.

“The people of Benaria are very proud of ExxonMobil’s assistance because since it was built five decades ago, no maintenance work has ever been done to it, although this would be the only health facility that serves the entire population,” Robin said.

Benaria station council, James Pabe also thanked ExxonMobil for coming to Benaria people’s aid in improving the health center and also providing road services which has linked them to the outside world.