Paula DAVID

First time PNG Kumuls, Zev John, still cannot believe he is playing for the national team and pledges to do his best in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup when the time comes. John, who plays as a prop forward for the Central Queensland Capras in the Queensland Hostplus Cup, is passionate and proud to put on the PNG colors and play alongside some of the big NRL players like Alex Johnston, Justin Olam, and Xavier Coats. “I can’t explain it, I’m so excited to be here with the boys. I was the biggest fan for Justin Olam and Nixon Putt back in the days, so playing alongside them means a lot.” He added that being part of the 2022 World Cup team is just unbelievable for him. John said he will give his 100% effort when playing for the Kumuls especially playing with some of the senior players that will be brining so much to the table. “Throughout this training, Justin has been a great input, especially to us younger boys. He is a great role model and training with him means a lot to me, said John.” The Kumuls team will depart for UK this afternoon around 3:30pm at the Jackson’s International Airport for the Rugby League World Cup where they go head-to-head with Tonga on the 18th October.

As schools across the country go into preparations for the national examinations next week, Butuka Academy took the time out to celebrate "World Teachers Day". Butuka Academy Principal Mr Dennis Iauve said, the students took the initiative with a little help from the teachers to have this celebration. The students presented gifts to each of their class teachers and a couple of dance performances. "World Teachers' Day provides us with the opportunity to thank every teacher or instructor that has contributed to our student’s life through education and we acknowledge that," said Mr Iauve. “Teachers are millionaires because whatever we teach around here the end products which are the students are millionaires as well and we are very happy to be the ones teaching teaching them, said Iauve.” Mr Iauve said, they have a total of twenty-eight teachers and are very proud of the efforts the teachers at Butuka Academy have put in to educate our future generation.

 The University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Business and Public Policy’s HRM students received a kind donation of K10, 000 that will go towards their Human Resource Management (HRM) Day which will be celebrated on the 3rd of October. School of Business and Public Policy Head of Division (HOD) Mr. Raymond John said, this will be the first HR Day after an overdue of 2years due to COVID. “Basically the HR Day is where students take part in activities like debates, quiz and a series of panel dissuasions from what they have learnt during their classes," said John. This platform also paves a way forward to help the students build their soft skills especially in management skills, leadership skills and their public speaking through the theme “Graduate Readiness for the Future Work”. Mr. John thanked BSP for their platinum sponsorship for the event and hope to maintain the relationship. BSP Group Manager-Human Resource Hari Rabura said, they are happy to support this program as it paves a pathway for students to upskill their knowledge and understanding of the role which also makes training a lot easier when they graduate and are recruited into graduate programs like BSP’s Graduate Program. “As HR people, we want the students to be ready and well equipped before they leave Uni, "said Rabura. Representing the student body Ms. Thatiana Loreakena-HRM Vice-president thanked BSP for being one of the major sponsors for the event as this will benefit them and build their network with business houses and organizations after they graduate. “Most of the students tend to shy-away and hide in their spaces and events like this, we believe that this gives us the opportunity to open up and learn more before we come into the workforce," said Thatiana. Meanwhile, Dr. Lawrence Sause UPNG Deputy Dean also thanked BSP and for the support they have given to the students. “I think the future will only get better if we put in our resources to good use like upskilling the next generation the better.”

In support toward Port Moresby General Hospital’s first Clinical Nursing Symposium, City Pharmacy Limited has come on board showing their support through a donation of K20, 000. CPL General Manager-Sales & Merchandise Pradeep Panda, said after a meet with the team from POMGEN, they felt that it was a privilege for CPL to come on board and support this good cause. “It’s a wonderful thing that’s why we at CPL have come on board to support this with almost K20, 000 worth of merchandise which includes lanyards, pen, notebooks and other things as well, said Panda.” Panda added that they are also happy to support this cause as it will help equip the nurses to upgrade their knowledge especially with what’s happening across the globe. Speaking on behalf of the hospital was the Symposium Committee-Chair lady Sr. Anita Alu said, they are grateful for CPL's support and they hope to partner with them in upcoming events to enhance our nursing in PNG. "The Symposium will run for three days at the Apec Haus that will see nurses from other provinces join in as well," said Alu.

Clinical operations at the Goroka Provincial Hospital in Eastern Highlands Province had to be scaled down with only a handful of clinical staff turning up for duties yesterday. The poor turn-out of staff was the result of the unfortunate event that unfolded and escalated over the weekend in Goroka town after the recent killing of the late PNG Ports CEO. Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority CEO Dr Joseph Apa said, they have scaled down their operations and only allowed the emergency ward to be open because they were short staffed. “Many of the hospital staff were in fear and did not turn up for work, while some did not turn up because they come from the same Tribe “Benna” as the late PNG Ports CEO," said Dr. Apa. Meanwhile, only 6 people were brought in for treatment after receiving minor injuries from the fight but suddenly left the hospital due to fear. Dr. Apa said, they are hoping that operations in the hospital will be back in full swing by the end of the week after the hospital scaled down its operations while schools and shops were closed on Tuesday. He added that they are hoping to see the newly elected politicians play a greater role as leaders of the province to arrest the current situation.

Through Holiday Inn's "Giving for Good Month” which has seen nearly three-hundred & fifty-thousand acts of kindness across the world, Buk Bilong Pikinini was honored to receive a kind donation worth K5, 000 from the Hotel and its management. According to Buk Bilong Pikinini's Dorothy Koch, with the donation they are looking at purchasing around 30 class sets which are reader books that come in a pack of thirty that will be sent out to the BBP learning centers not only in the city but in the outer provinces as well. She thanked the Hotel and its Management for the worthy support as this will go a long way. "With the on-going problem of overcrowding in one classroom, this learning materials will definitely help the children out were they are all reading and learning at the same time and not missing out on lessons, stated Koch." Holiday Inn's Area General Manager Mr Mauro Leone said that the "Giving for Good Month" is an annual event celebrated and they are happy to support such cause as this will benefit the country by educating the young ones at an early age. He added that they are happy to partner with BbP and hope to see this partnership go a long way. Hotel Manager Rashmi Tulsiani also stated that it’s a great initiative and appreciate the work BbP are doing to educate the children of Papua New Guinea not only in the city but in remote places as well. "I would like to say that as a mother, the biggest wealth I can give my child and the future generation is education, so what you guys are doing and have built since 2007 is absolutely inspiring, because at the end of the day literacy is going to change the world for the better, said Tulsiani. "

Port Moresby General Hospital receives new ablution block for its Maternity wing the first phase of the "Helpim Karim Mama Haus" project headed by 3 of BSP's strategic business units that combined to refurbished the maternity wing at the Port Moresby General Hospital was handed over to the hospital management. According to Natasha Beangke the Project Coordinator, the project came about after a site visit at the hospital where they saw the need for mothers to clean and care for themselves in a safe and clean environment after giving birth. " It was very heart reaching when I saw a ward full of mother's, at least a 100 women only using five toilets and showers as the other ablution block in Ward 11 was closed for over two years," said Beangke. "As a mother witnessing this, it inspired her to recommend this initiative to her management and soon after all stakeholders approved the project and renovations were under way," said Beangke . She added that the first handover of Block A was handed over to the hospital's CEO Dr Paki Molumi while Block B will be handed over after its completion at the end of this month. Speaking on behalf of one of the three combined groups was Chief Operating Officer for Operations & IT Mr. Frank ven der Poll said that through this joint community project they want to ensure that their customers and other stakeholders are being looked after from a community level up. Mr ven der Poll thanked the hospital for giving them the opportunity to come and roll out this project and also made an appeal to the hospital to look after the facilities. "I do appeal to POMGen  management and staff to look after the facilities as it will be extremely beneficial in the long run, said ven der Poll." Meanwhile, Dr Paki Molumi thanked the teams for the job well done as this will be benefit the mothers at the hospital. "We have up to 40-60 admissions per day and with the newly refurbished toilets and showers, mother's will now enjoy a clean and safe place for them care for themselves after giving birth," said Molumi. Dr Molumi also appealed to the hospital staff and mothers who will be using this soon to take care of the facility and thanked the 3 BSP teams for the joint effort to bring this forward.

The Gordon’s Clinic here in the Nation’s Capital closed its doors on Monday morning due to the election violence related incidents that escalated around the area. According to Nursing Officer for Family Planning Sister Edna Ratu, the clinic had to close down its services because of the fighting going on at Gordons. “Even though people lined up as early as 6am in the morning to get checked, we had to send them home around 8:30am due to the situation.” Sister Ratu added that, the entire staff were sent home as well. "We are waiting for further directives from their clinic manager whether to resume duties tomorrow or not." In the mean time, Sister Ratu is appealing to the general public to keep safe at this time and also avoid getting sick as there are many election violence related incidents happening in our city.

The Education Secretary Dr. Uke Kombra today issued a nationwide circular to all principals of secondary schools, and schools of excellence, as well as provincial education advisors advising of changes in the National Examination, dates for the 2022 Grade 12 Written Expression Examination. As per the Education Calendar 2022, the Grade 12 Written Expression examination is scheduled for Monday 1st August 2022 and all materials relating to the exam have already been dispatched to the respective schools in the country following normal procedures. In accordance with the existing schedule, all Grade 12 schools were expected to distribute the reading booklets to students at 8 am on Monday the 25tth of July, and the exam itself is timed for Monday 1st August 2022. Given the actual situations relating to the ongoing National Elections counting process, several schools and p4rovinces are in need of a deferral of the examination date for the students and schools to settle and have a conducive environment for students to sit the examination. Dr. Kombra further stated that as a result, the Grade 12 Written Expression examination is postponed by 2 weeks to Monday the 15th of August 2022. Meanwhile, in light of the current situation in the Nation’s Capital Dr. Kombra added that all NCD schools are suspended for the rest of this week, to resume classes next Monday 1st August 2022.

This news just in! All NCD schools are suspended for the rest of this week, to resume classes next Monday 1st August 2022. That’s from Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra. Grade 12 exams dates have been changed. The Written Expression exam scheduled for Monday 1st August is now deferred to Monday 15th August 2022. Keep listening to the news on NAU FM, Yumi FM & Legend FM & follow our news website pnghausbung.com for more on this story.

The new Kairuku Open seat has started counting after midday yesterday after resolving the matter of scrutineers per candidate to be present in the counting venue during counting time. The Returning Officer (RO) Mr. Henry Oa said they agreed on having scrutineers inside the counting venue, but one at a time. “Two come in, one sits outside while the other goes in. When the one inside wants to take a break, then he comes out and other takes his place,” explained Mr. Oa. Mr. Oa said about 50 ballot boxes; 25 for the Kairuku Open seat and 25 for Central Regional seat will be counted. “We just got two boxes in, and we start with the boxes from the Kuni LLG (Local Level Government). So, we brought Kuni’s boxes in, open them up and do the counting.” Meanwhile, earlier during the day the counting officials and scrutineers were briefed on the basic procedures and rules observed during counting. The RO also told them to perform professionally and set a good example for other counting venues to follow. All the counting will take place at the Murray Barracks gymnasium in Port Moresby city.

The 2022 UPNG Oro Students Association are set to host their major end of the year fundraiser which is the “Oro Night” that’s set for the 19th August at the Cosmopolitan. According to Micah Betute the Association President, all funds raised will go towards their end of year Educational awareness programs back in the province. “All funds raised during the night will go towards their end of year educational awareness program and other programs for the association, says Betuet.” He added that, they are doing this because the number of students passing to tertiary institutions has significantly dropped with approximately 10 students making it to UPNG since 2019 and only 3 students making it to UPNG for this year alone. “We want to go back to the province and help motivate the young student’s especially the ones in high school and those that have completed Grd12 about what comes after high school and to better themselves in their academic work to reach greater heights, says Betuet.” Tickets will be available on the 21st of this month and will be going for K50. The night will also see the province’s finest artist Mr Allen Lee Herove aka Saugas blasts his oldie numbers along with a couple of new hits.