The European Union has given K30,000 to Water PNG for the national university debate scheduled for October 9-11 at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae, Morobe Province.

BY LEONNIE WAYANG

The European Union, through the national authorising officer support unit (NAOSU), made the funds available for the 35 students and staff taking part in the debate.

The six participating universities are: University of Goroka, University of Papua New Guinea, Pacific Adventist University, University of Natural Resources and Environment, Divine Word University and University of Technology.

The national university debate is a final part of the celebrations of Water PNG’s 30th anniversary.

Water PNG chief corporate officer, Imbu K Palya, thanked the European Union for its contribution in hosting the final event of their 30th anniversary.

“On October 8, the debaters from the six national universities will be congregating at the University of Technology to start the national debate on various subjects affecting water and sanitation in the country. And this is one of the first-time events where we’re getting the best brains in the country to come and debate on certain subjects so as to educate our people on the importance of water and sanitation and the work we do in the country,” Mr Palya said.

NAOSU program director, Roger Kara, congratulated Water PNG for reaching the 30-year milestone in providing water and sanitation services despite the many challenges they face.

“The theme of the debate itself is ‘Provision of safe water and sanitation services throughout the country’, which we are in support of because it is the government’s agenda as well, of delivering a very vital service to this country, which is water and sanitation. It is also in support of the government’s policy on WaSH, which is that we need to achieve a 70 percent target by the year 2030 in terms of providing this service to this country,” Mr Kara said.

The announcement of the sponsorship was made yesterday at the Water PNG office in Port Moresby.

SOURCE: 5 October 2017, Post Courier