Residents of Bobong village, situated in the Wampar LLG of the Huon Gulf District in Morobe province, have faced a significant challenge for over sixty years: the daily trek to fetch water for cooking and drinking.
This arduous task, particularly burdensome for women and young girls, involves hours of walking to the Erap River.
There, small wells are dug near its banks to access clean water.
Carrying large containers filled with water back to the village has been a routine, albeit difficult, task for the villagers, especially during heavy downpours and flooding when the journey becomes even more perilous.
Monica John, who has spent a considerable portion of her life hauling water, expresses immense relief with the recent completion of a water project funded by the Huon Gulf District.
This initiative aims to alleviate the burden of long-distance travel and the physical strain of transporting water containers.
With improved access to clean water, the residents of Bobong village can now envision a brighter, more secure future.
The water project was made possible through a bottom-up approach initiated by the local MP, allocating K100, 000 to the 65 wards in the electorate.
The first batch payment of K34, 000 was provided to ward counsellors to kick-start projects in each ward.
Meanwhile for Ward 18 in Wampar LLG, Ward Councilor Anthon Nawayo invested in setting up a water system in the village, ensuring that women and young girls no longer have to endure the burden of carrying water over long distances.