Recipients of social welfare assistance in Navosa will soon have a welfare officer to serve them.

This after the District Officer for Keiyasi, Jovesa Naqarikau, said villagers were in need of the welfare officer to serve them locally  at the Government station at Keiyasi.

While making his request to the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar, Mr Naqarikau said because of the geographical situation of the region, the area was widespread and villagers spend about $50 on travel to receive their vouchers.

“They come right up from the interior and it becomes costly for them,” he said.

“And the fact is we have a lot of social welfare recipients here and there are a lot of works to be done as well.”

But Ms Akbar said she had already informed the authorities at the Ministry of Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation to assign a social welfare officer in the region when she was with the Ministry.

Upon a follow-up with the ministry, Ms Akbar told Mr Naqarikau that the officer had been assigned and arrangements needed to be made for accommodation.

The officer will be deployed to the region once accommodations are arranged.

Ms Akbar also heard other issues relating to pending road works in the area, which would be relayed to the ministry to deal with.

Currently the Namawala crossing works has been halted for a while due to engineering issues.

The crossing is expected to be relocated.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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