The Okapa District Development Authority in Eastern Highlands Province has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea for the development of a new health facility.
ELCPNG Head Bishop, Reverend Dr Jack Urame, and General Secretary, Mr Bernard Kaisom, signed the MOA on behalf of the church. Okapa MP and DDA Chairman, Hon. Sakie Soloma, and DDA Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kalabe Yabaimanta, signed on behalf of the Okapa DDA.
The signing took place on May 2, 2026, at Ampo in Lae, and was witnessed by representatives from the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority and Lutheran Health Services.
The MOA formalises a partnership between ELCPNG and Okapa DDA for the sharing of ELCPNG land at Tarabo, within the Tarabo Circuit of the ELC-Goroka District, for the development of a Level Four Okapa District Hospital.
Under the agreement, a total of 6.8 hectares of land will be made available to the Okapa DDA for the construction of the hospital. An additional 9.8 hectares will also be allocated for other infrastructure development in line with the district’s development plan.
ELCPNG Head Bishop, Rev. Dr Urame, said the church holds the land title and is pleased to make land available for development that serves the common good, especially a health facility that will benefit the people.
Rev. Dr Urame said the signing demonstrates the confidence Okapa DDA has in working with the church to develop its land. He added that ELCPNG is open to similar partnerships with DDAs in other parts of the country where the church has land available for development.
He said the church is ready to work with development partners, but such long-term development agendas must be discussed and properly understood at different church decision-making levels. He said proper consultation and approval for the release of land are important to avoid issues in the future.
Okapa MP, Hon. Sakie Soloma, thanked ELCPNG for making land available for the Okapa District Hospital development, describing the project as an exciting and important initiative for the district.
Mr Soloma said the land agreed for development by the DDA is sufficient for the health facility, as well as other important infrastructure such as a school, police station and other services.
He said the health facility will be funded by the Asian Development Bank, and the main challenge had been securing suitable land for the project. With ELCPNG agreeing to make land available, he said the DDA can now proceed with further negotiations and documentation.
“Okapa is a big district and needs its own hospital to cater for the health needs of its people. I am satisfied to see this project commence because it is a real need for my people,” Mr Soloma said.
“My DDA will give all the support needed to ELCPNG and the EHP PHA to ensure all requirements are met and the processes are followed accordingly,” he added.
Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr Pamusa Warima, said the PHA, as the implementer of the government’s health sector in the province, has captured the project in its corporate plan.
Dr Warima said the PHA is working in partnership with DDAs in Eastern Highlands Province to deliver district hospitals for its eight districts. He said they are pleased to see progress being made toward the Okapa District Hospital project.
He said securing land with proper title had been a major challenge, but with the land now being church-owned and titled, the project funder would have confidence to support the development.
“There is no major health facility for the district, and our people are travelling long distances to access the nearest health services,” Dr Warima said.
“I want to thank MP Soloma for choosing Tarabo as the site for this district hospital because it is strategically located and can be accessed by the six local level governments of Okapa,” he said.
Dr Warima said the National Department of Health recognises that Okapa needs a district hospital, adding that the project is important because more than 200,000 people will benefit from it.
He said once the health facility is completed, it will be handed over to Lutheran Health Services to manage.
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