22 Nov 2010

PNG government held accountable by NGO over cholera deaths

5:55 am on 22 November 2010

A Papua New Guinea NGO says it's holding the government accountable over the cholera deaths on Daru Island in Western Province.

Over 100 people are estimated to have died in the outbreak.

The Papua Hahine Social Action Network says the region's fresh water supplies have been destroyed by the OK Tedi mine and medical facilities there and in the surrounding districts have long been understaffed .

The action network's spokeperson, Susan Setae says the government agency, the PNG Sustainable Development Programme, which uses the profits from OK Tedi, should have been investing in and around Daru.

"We see that as the area where developers as well as our government have failed to truly serve our people - the cholera has taken."