Minister for Health, Dr Lino Tom and Member for Wapenamanda and Minister for Finance, Miki Kaeok, recently travelled to Talyokos, Wapenamanda in Enga province to officially launch the construction of the new Talyokos Community Health Post. The Ministers were joined by Health Secretary, Dr Osborne Liko, representatives from the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Health Services Sector Development Program, National Department of Health, Enga Provincial Health Authority and Community leaders. The existing Talyokos Aid Post is a small, basic structure made from bush materials, along with rudimentary water and sanitation facilities. A single community health worker delivers basic outpatient services and there is no capacity for inpatient or maternity care. For obstetric and other medical emergencies, patients including pregnant mothers, have to be carried on makeshift stretchers to Wapenamanda District Hospital which is a few hours away on foot. Talyokos Aid Post was built by the community on their own initiative, and serves a catchment population of around 18, 809 people in villages scattered throughout the Talyokos Rural Local Level Government area, as well as additional surrounding rural communities which share borders. The aid post which is currently registered as a level one health facility, will be upgraded to a level two Community Health Post, where will have six acute inpatient beds, a delivery suite with a birthing couch, two outpatient rooms, an emergency procedure room, and five staff houses. This infrastructure project, worth 6.2 million kina, will also include essential medical equipment and furniture. In addition, the Talyokos Community Health Post will be fit-for-purpose, well-equipped and provide an optimal physical environment for health workers to safely deliver quality care. According to Minister Tom, reaching rural communities and providing access to improved health care services through rehabilitating health infrastructure and strengthening the health workforce is a key priority for him. During the ceremony, hundreds of people gathered to show their support and appreciation for the much-needed upgraded health facility. Minister Tom thanked the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) as well as ADB for funding this important project and called on the community for their ongoing support. “This sentiment was reflected in speeches by other representatives, calling for the community to take ownership of their new health facility; to benefit them and future generations.”