A new JICA volunteer will work under the Division of Energy and Natural Resources of the Western Province in Gizo.

Ms Yuko Furukawa replaces another JICA Volunteer, Naoya Ueno.

Ms Furukawa said she is ready to serve Western Province to control the solid waste management programmes.

Ms Furukawa looks forward to working with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Gizo, the Ministry of Energy and the Division Natural Resources, Gizo Town Council and the Solid Waste Management Volunteers.

“I’m ready to work with the people of Western Province for two years.”

She explained that Western province has worked very hard over the past years to ensure that proper solid waste management is implemented, and has demonstrated good levels of success.

“There are other issues which have yet to be addressed and it is important to our focus to these in order to consolidate existing solid waste management programmes.

“I call on the market vendors and the people in Gizo to work with us to improve the environment for the benefit of the people,” Ms Furukawa said.

Jully Kalamana from the Division of Energy and Natural Resources of Western province will assist her.

Jully Kalamana, while welcoming the new volunteer, said she needs everyone’s support so that they can work towards solid waste management.

“I’m happy to have the new JICA volunteer all the way from Japan who has come to work with us here in Western provincial capital town to improve Solid Waste Management programmes.”

She also thanked JICA for allocating a volunteer to support the people of Western Province.