ATprojects together with other partners in Eastern Highlands marked the World AIDS DAY at Peace Park in the heart of Goroka town on Dec 1^st, 2014.

In line with this year’s theme; “Zero Discrimination –Access to Service is My Right “, ATprojects co-Director and Deputy Chairperson of the Provincial Aids Council (PAC), Miriam Layton urged everyone in the community to have access to health, counselling and VCT services being offered by service providers in the province.

Mrs Layton urged those living in denial of HIV to go forward and have access to counselling and testing services

Hundreds of people from all walks of life witnessed Wold Aids Day at Goroka Peace Park in the Eastern Highlands Province of PNG

“HIV virus is killing very silently in our family and house hold, community society and we must not ignore the services being offered to us. The National Government is injecting a lot of money to the service providers to ensure that we have access to those services and every person has the right to access them,” she said.

She said people who have been living in denial of HIV must go forward and access these services and it is free and by doing so is the way forward to eliminate the virus in the communities and the country as a whole. She added that ought to people to change their attitudes and contribute meaningfully to the development of the PNG.

ATproject display PHK during the World Aids Day on December Ist 2014

Meanwhile a person living with HIV challenged youths to think carefully before making any decisions that could cost them their lives.

He said young people must know that they have a long way to go and they must refrain from engaging themselves in any risky sexual and promiscuous activities that could alter their lives and those of their families.

Other partners that participated in the World AIDS Day activities in the province included ST. Joseph’s Centre of Hope that conducted free VCT tests, Minivava, Mercy Works, Catholic Health Services, National Catholic Family life, Eastern Highlands Family Voice, Save the Children and Touching the Untouchables.

 

 

Miriam Layton from AT Projects on PNG’s sanitation challenge

Research has shown that women are particularly vulnerable in areas with inadequate sanitation, and often simple solutions can improve the situation. One organisation working on the ground in Goroka Province in Papua New Guinea is AT Projects.

Richard Ewart:

(follow this link to hear the interview audio)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-19/miriam-layton-from-a-t-projects-on-pngs-sanitation/4379102

Source: ABC News | Duration: 6min 23sec

 

Posted November 19, 2012 09:38:33

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Six AT-Round Loo toilet facilities at rural Ombuda Primary School under the School WASH program. These toilets, including three water tanks and a Girls Shower were built in 2013. Following a big opening where ATprojects was invited, these facilities are now in use.

Seen here is a picture of an incinerator that was installed at the Simbari health centre and at the background view shows the AT ‘Round loo’ toilets.

ATprojects staff Ishmael Agena demonstrating to the officer in charge of the health centre on the right usage of incinerator

Simbari health centre in the remote area of Obura Wonenara district, Eastern Highlands province now has access to clean sanitation facilities including solar power.

These facilities include the installation of two tuffa tanks, two solar panels, an incinerator and the building of two ATprojects ‘Round loo’ toilets.

Co-director of ATprojects, Steve Layton said the facilities were made possible through funding from Care International (PNG) in partnership with the ATprojects.

Testing out the new tapstand from the water tank installed

Mr Layton said Care International funded ATprojects with more than K20, 000 to provide technical support through skilled tradesman to carry out the up-grading work.

ATprojects carpenter Ishmael Agena who flew into the remote area with his colleague Samuel Aiyano via a Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) plane earlier this year said according to the officer in-charge of the health centre, the small clinic serves more than 7, 000 people from the neighbouring nine villages.  

 

Carpenters employed by Gorohanuto primary school upgrading the walling of the six AT-loos installed by ATprojects years ago

Many rural primary schools which have benefited from the school WASH program are taking ownership of maintaining sit-down toilets installed by ATprojects.

Gorohanuto primary school in Goroka (Rural) district is one such school using its resources to upgrade their toilets.

ATprojects M&E WASH project officer Richard Longgar was conducting an inspection on schools which have previously benefited from this program, to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of these facilities through the use by students attending these schools.

Longgar said school administrations and

A student drinking water from the installed water tanks after using the toilet. The tanks were relocated by the school to its administration block.

boards, and teachers can be different from those who had signed agreements to benefit this program, as well as new students come in as old students go out, so it is important to carry out a check to ensure that awareness skills on health & hygiene by ATprojects after installation of these facilities has been passed on and being practiced.

He visited Gorohanto primary school, accompanied by ATprojects Workshop Foreman John Robin, on August 20^th, 2014.

His visit coincided with the current upgrading of the walling from woven cane to roofing iron being worked on, as well as the Eastern Highlands provincial primary school Inspector Brian Kaupa also visiting the school.

While praising the school board and administration for its initiative to upgrade these vital school facilities, it was learnt that more and more schools are now able to properly budget under the SLIP program to assist student welfare issues, one of them being health & hygiene and sanitation.

ATprojects workmen putting finishing touches to ATLoo frames at the ATprojects Centre Workshop

Having access to better water and sanitation facilities are important for good health. One way that ATprojects contributes to make sure that communities have access to these facilities is by installing the ATloo toilets, girl’s shower and tanks in the schools in Eastern Highlands Province under the SCHOOL WASH program supported by Oxfam International here in Goroka. ATprojects mainly installs 6 ATLoo toilets, a shower house for girls and 2 (9000 L) tanks in the schools where it conducts its SCHOOL WAS PROGRAM. Featured here are two of the ATprojects staff on the workshop floor producing ATloo frames primary schools benefiting the SCHOOL WASH program.

 This week we feature our fiberglass section making a master mould. This master mould will be used as a standard mould where other similar moulds are produced from it.

Here we see Kevin Sipa an ATprojects staff making a master mould for a small sink that would be installed in our new Urine Diversion Toilets, an additional hand washing facility.

ATprojects co-Director Steve Layton speaking to senior Oxfam officers visiting ATprojects Centre