27 Dec 2013

New PNG schemes to support elderly and disabled

4:33 pm on 27 December 2013

The Papua New Guinea government says a new system to support the elderly and the disabled will change the country's image for the better.

A pension system and national services scheme will be rolled out in 2015 and will cater to individuals over the age of 65 and people living with a disability in PNG.

The Prime Minister Peter O'Neill told local media that the elderly and disabled people are a next to forgotten part of the community in dire need of attention.

According to the Post Courier, Mr O'Neill says the national services scheme will also serve as a job centre to help those who are not accepted into tertiary institutes and to fight an epidemic of school dropouts that has blighted the country for a long time.