NGO helps restore rural health centre

A MADANG-based non-government organisation (NGO) Melanesian Foundation has recently assisted with a restoration of Sumkar district’s Miak’s health centre on Karkar Island in the province along with the humanitarian effort by the US Navy, assisted by the PNG Defence Force.
Foundation chairman and former Regional Member for Madang Sir Peter Barter said the restoration of the centre was made possible by employing a full-time director and an assistant to manage and execute all the foundation’s project activities.
“I am pleased with the commitment of the director Peter Memafu whom I know acted enthusiastically to complete the current projects,” he said.
“Before the foundation became involved, major wards within Miak’s health centre were reportedly closed due to shortage of water, there was a critical need for a complete restoration to many of its facilities.
“Miak health centre is also responsible for over 32 aid-posts within the Sumkar district and by allowing the health centre to shut down indefinitely would further deprive all the services it provides to many of these aid-posts,” he said.
The Melanesian Foundation in recent years had become involved in larger projects in conjunction with churches, NGOs the National Government and recently assisted the US Navy to undertake humanitarian help to the people of Madang, Sir Peter said.
One of the Foundation’s first task was to help coordinate the US Navy to undertake humanitarian projects in Josephstaal, Miak on Karkar Island, undertake massive immunisation in various parts of Madang and carry out road and school maintenance.
After the US Navy departed, the Foundation had much of the work to complete the projects at Miak and Josephstaal and most recently at Gaubin the Lutheran Hospital on Karkar, this work would continue, he said.
Once the Foundation completed the current projects they will focus on the construction of a Medical Health Centre and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) centre at Basamuk close to the new Ramu Nickel Mine.