Young woman’s loss a gain for Kokoda people

THE heartbreaking loss of an expectant young Kokoda woman in 2008 will turn into a blessing for all of Kokoda on the inaugural Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day to be held today.
Indilah Sakiki, from Waju village in Kokoda, died of cerebral malaria on July 22, 2008, because of the difficulty of transporting her to hospital.
Her death touched Australian Jeff Keough, a good mate and former workmate of her husband Daniel, that he started an organisation called Kokoda Angels to raise funds for an ambulance in memory of Indilah Sakiki and for the people of Kokoda.
For the last two years, he had single-handedly approached people and organisations in Australia to help the people of Kokoda.
Such had been the response that Keough was able to bring a fully-kitted Toyota landcruiser ambulance, the first in the country, to Port Moresby.
He had planned to fly it to Kokoda by helicopter today in time for the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Day celebrations but, a last-minute change of plans meant the ambulance would be shipped to Popondetta next Tuesday and driven to Kokoda.
“Kokoda Angels started when my friend’s wife died of malaria seven months into her pregnancy,” Keough, who is married to a Papua New Guinean woman, told The National.
“Because there was no vehicle  in the area, I started a charity to garner support and get an ambulance and medical supplies.
Keough was no newcomer to PNG, having assisted PNG as a volunteer aid worker during the 1994 volcanic eruptions in Rabaul, 1999 El Nino-induced drought, 1998 Aitape tsunami, 2007 Northern cyclone and many others.
People willing to assist Kokoda Angels can contact him on 73368478 or visit http://www.kokodaangels.com