A new house with solar power has been completed in Kulel village in the Rai Coast District, a first for the district in Madang province.

The house was built for a community health worker and funded by the Rai Coast District Development Authority at a cost of K75,000. It was completed in March.

For many years, health workers in remote areas of Papua New Guinea have faced poor housing and lack of electricity. This has made it hard to stay and work in rural communities.

The new house aims to change that. It provides proper accommodation and solar lighting, allowing health services to continue even at night.

Rai Coast MP Kessy Sawang said the project is part of an effort to improve basic services in rural areas.

“We want our health workers to stay in the community and serve our people,” she said.

People in Kulel say the house will improve access to health care. They say having a health worker nearby means faster treatment and better response to emergencies.

The project is small but important for the village.

Sawang said more development is planned, including a new aid post for Kulel this year.

For now, the solar-powered house is a simple but important step for better health care in the community.