Foundation supports airline

THE Digicel PNG Foundation will continue its support of Samaritan Aviation operation along the Sepik River, according to a company statement.
The Samaritan Aviation is a non-profit Christian organisation that has been serving the people of East Sepik through emergency evacuation flights, delivery of medical supplies, and community outreach and health programmes.
Digicel Foundation’s total funding is K300,000 to date.
Its support for 2019/2020 includes assisting with logistics and fuel costs to support emergency flights to the Sepik river communities, and the newly-introduced emergency obstetric care course for nurses and community health workers from the health centres the float plane services.
Last week saw the first batch of 22 health workers undergo the course run by the East Sepik College of Nursing in partnership with the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority.
The health workers who participated in the training operate in the most remote parts of East Sepik with little to no equipment to assist women during deliveries.
The training covered topics on maternal and infant health including sessions on trauma healing and child protection.
Participants expressed gratitude over being equipped with vital information that will assist in managing complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Medical directors of Samaritan Aviation Chris and Sarah Cooke emphasised the importance of the training.
“We’re so grateful to partner with Digicel Foundation to bring together rural health workers who are often forgotten to receive such training to help them,” Cook said.
Digicel Foundation chief executive officer Serena Sasingian said it was part of a three-year strategic plan for the foundation to work with the Government and stakeholders to deliver health infrastructure and programmes to improve primary health care outcomes