MAF medevac and four-hour drive saves young boy’s life

A YOUNG boy’s abdomen was punctured after he stumbled on a knife he was carrying, is recovering in Western, thanks to MAF PNG and other good samaritans in the province.
According to MAF PNG (non-governmental organisation), the knife punctured his bowel and liver as well in Mougulu last week.
The Mougulu clinic staff did the best they could with what little they had and contacted Dr Kevin Pondikou, a residential doctor at Rumginae who then requested a medevac with MAF late that evening.
There’s no alternative to a medevac flight to save the boy’s life as there is no road to Kiunga nor to another town where he could get medical help.
MAF pilot Mathias Glass flew the boy from Mougulu to Kiunga.
In Kiunga, Dr Pondikou drove him for another four hours to the mining township at Tabubil where the surgeon was ready to receive him.
MAF said two days later, they received the good news that the boy had undergone surgery and was recovering well.
He was saved by the plastic protective wrapping that the team at Mougulu did to protect his bowel from infection.