Firm, govt to buy X-ray machine

 ISLANDS Petroleum in Rabaul and the East New Britain provincial government will pay for a new X-ray machine for St Mary’s Hospital.

It is part of Operation Katim Halivim Pikinini, a community-oriented assistance project sponsored by the company and supported by its partners.

The project brings in specialist surgeons from Australia to carry out operations on children with conditions that prevent them from living normal lives.

The visiting doctors train local doctors.

Islands Petroleum will bring another team of surgeons from Australia to Rabaul next month.

On Monday, the provincial government handed K57,000 to Islands Petroleum.

Coordinator of the Regional Member’s Office Albert Buanga thanked the company for the project which is giving children a chance to live normal lives.

He said the initiative was also putting the private-public partnership concept into reality and contributing to health improvement in ENB and the region.

Company owner Paul Bluett said it was keen on giving back to the community. Apart from the surgical project, the company is assisting in education by paying the salary of a school teacher at a school in West New Britain in the past 11 years.

The company is supporting sports in ENB and in the country through its continuous sponsorship of island team NGIP Agmark Guria.

Bluett praised the private sector and the provincial government for the support and assistance.