HOPE DELIVERED

STORY BY HANNAH GARDENER

“...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

“In our struggle you arrived...and removed some of those struggles.”

Morehead, a district centre situated in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea’s Western Province, is home to a healthcare centre suffering from prolonged depletion of supplies and morale. Twenty years without desperately needed anti-venom is just one supply shortage these healthcare workers face.

As if this weren’t enough, they now face the challenge of providing healthcare in a pandemic without proper personal protective equipment (PPE). One nurse summed up the staff’s sorrow over their inability to give personal, hands-on treatment during the pandemic: “Within this period of time we are not friends with our patients because we are fearing to treat patients without PPE.” That is, until now…

On 10 May, in the midst of this challenging time, an MAF plane, loaded with SDP’s Aerial Health Patrol (AHP) team members and abundant medical supplies (including PPE and antivenom), landed in remote Morehead. AHP’s customary introductory meeting was followed by COVID-19 awareness activities, outpatient clinics, immunisations, and trainings for health workers on COVID-19, snake bites, infection control, and family planning.

The MAF PNG team helps the community by repairing a generator for them.

SDP’S AERIAL HEALTH PATROL

Morehead health workers were so grateful for the COVID-19 awareness and PPE supplies such as masks, gloves, and hand sanitiser. One nurse shared, “When you came today with masks, you allowed us to work with our patients…when you did the COVID-19 awareness, it cleared up the confusion.” The end of the day found Morehead health workers anticipating the next day’s return to the health centre, armed with proper PPE.

So, on 11 May, the healthcare staff happily donned their masks and gloves and returned to the health centre to give the hands-on patient care they value so much.

These heartfelt words from a Morehead health centre staff say it all: “You relieved our fears… and enlightened our spirit… we don’t know what to say but only to thank you all.”