Aopi, 73, sees profession a ‘blessing’

National

By OGIA MIAMEL
Radiography is not a profession in the medical field that many young people want to pursue, but pioneer radiographer John Aopi, from Hula village in Central, says he is blessed to be a radiographer serving this country for almost 50 years.
John, 73 years old and works with Alotau Catholic Health Services working  mostly in rural outreach programmes.
He was one of the four pioneer radiographers who graduated from the Papuan Medical College in 1964, with a diploma in radiography. Right after graduating he did a one year residency at the Port Moresby General Hospital before moving to Wabag, Enga.
Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays to view the internal structure of an object. A radiographer is an allied health professional who uses X-rays to produce radiographs of patients in order to help diagnose the patient’s medical condition.
A radiographer can have a lot of variety in their working day. As well as using X-rays to produce radiographs, they can take computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Aopi served in Lagaip-Porgera and Kandep in Enga before transferring to Goroka General Hospital in Eastern Highlands, where he served for 20 years.
Afterwards, he was moved to Wewak where he was appointed to radiographer for East and West Sepik.
He worked there before moving to Alotau General Hospital where he last served a public hospital and later joined the Catholic Health Services where he is currently working.