Deputy Toshao Jeff Bonaparte of Moraikobai Village Council has lived all his life in the community and he is passionate about community-based development.

He said in Moraikobai they have access to fresh foods, fish and wild meats and they enjoy a simple way of life bathing at the river side, washing clothes and dishes there too and utilise their skills to earn.

Bonaparte added that they do their own farming for both home use and selling their produce and soon they will be embarking on a large scale agricultural project where more lands will be available for cultivation.

The Vice Chairman reported that the Village Council has since received a tractor with ploughs for the agriculture project in the savannah lands right in the village.

Bonaparte stated that they have a total of 1,000 villagers in central Moraikobai and 200 in the smaller satellite village in front of the actual village making it 1200 locals.

He added that the people of Moraikobai earned from fishing, logging, hunting, the guesthouse, the Hubudee Eco Lodge, poultry and traditional and non-traditional framers and a handful of self-employed people, who have shops and other small businesses.

Bonaparte disclosed that the ICT Centre is completed but it is yet to be furnished with computers and internet.

He pointed out that they have a WIFI system which was provided by the government and while it is utilised by the residents, it is overwhelmed causing a slow connection.

The Vice Chairman of the Village Council who is also the pastor for the Church of Christ told the Pepperpot Magazine that the Hubudee Eco Lodge was built by the locals and is controlled by the Village Council.

It was opened in August last year and it offers a nature stay for visitors in a secluded part of the village.

Bonaparte noted that they have an open air benab at the landing of the village for visitor’s comfort and a larger one a few doors down which is used by cultural events, meetings and workshops.

He added that the Moraikobai Rest House has eight rooms and it is a project by the regional administration of Region Five but is managed by the Village Council. It was constructed in 1992 by the current administration.

Bonaparte disclosed that they had an old guesthouse which was in disrepair and was infested with bats until the new building was constructed.

He reported that the locals of Moraikobai are descendants of the Arawak tribe and they are a peaceful people, who are skilled in many ways and they lead a very simple way of life using what is around them to earn.

The Moraikobai Health Centre
The Moraikobai Health Centre is headed by Nursing Assistant Carla Daniels, who has been in the noble nursing profession since 2016.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that living and working in the same village has its ‘ups and downs’ and at times it is challenging.

Daniels stated that there are two Community Health Workers (CHW), a part-time worker and one cleaner attached to the Moraikobai Health Centre and they provide primary health care.

She explained that serious cases that they cannot handle at the facility are forwarded to the nearest hospital which is at Mahaicony and she would accompany the patient in the long commute via boat.

She related that there is a need for an in-house doctor and there is a visiting doctor, who comes every month or so.

The Nursing Assistant stated that the child health clinic is the largest unlike their chronic disease clinic and they see a lot of seasonal ill cases due to the change of weather.

Daniels explained that they also need a water ambulance given the fact they are a remote village and the commute via boat is more than two hours.

She stated that in the case of an emergency the patient can be rushed to the nearest hospital for medical attention having been stabilised in the water ambulance.

The Moraikobai Health Centre I a neat and clean facility which is adequate with a ward, delivery room, an unused dental room which needs a dental technician, the pharmacy, the triage/waiting area, vaccine room and washroom facilities.

When the team visited a health team was visiting and they were conducting COVID-19 vaccination for both adults and children.

The Moraikobai Health Centre is strategically located in the central part of the village and sits comfortably uphill.