Every time we venture into the PNG Highlands with a NR2H team, something special happens and the July 2014 XPD was no different. The team of Western Australians (5) and New South Welshman (2) supported by the Mexicans (2) quickly formed a close bond.
Day #1 Clinics in Port Moresby rapidly went to Plan B when we discovered that the Six Mile Clinic was closed due to an incident. The Board and Management of Port Moresby General Hospital seized the opportunity and had our team working in the maternity and emergency sections of the hospital. Two of our team delivered their first babies which was always on the cards in a hospital that churns out 15000 plus births a year and A& E ??? Well what an adventure that was!!!
After some minor logistical hiccups, which is par for the course in PNG, the No Roads Team weaved their magic and we hit the track, met our porters and commenced our clinical program with Jackson, Joshua and Rodney – the local health care workers.
We hiked in to the village of Efogi and while the team were bathing in the river I met a young mother with a baby who was ill. Five minutes later there was a scream, as the baby had a febrile convulsion and stopped breathing. Our team came running, commenced CPR and weaved some other magic, that me as a mere mortal just gasped at. Specific medication for the child were quickly located in the dispensary due to the amazing work done by the March 2014 NR2H XPD team – truly ladies, it was touch and go and the work you did in March helped save this child’s life!!
Well, a few hours later the child was stable and six hours later, she was sitting up munching on a sweet potato. It was an amazing exercise in team work and what a learning experience and training opportunity for Jackson in his home village.
Day #1 Clinics in Port Moresby rapidly went to Plan B when we discovered that the Six Mile Clinic was closed due to an incident. The Board and Management of Port Moresby General Hospital seized the opportunity and had our team working in the maternity and emergency sections of the hospital. Two of our team delivered their first babies which was always on the cards in a hospital that churns out 15000 plus births a year and A& E ??? Well what an adventure that was!!!
After some minor logistical hiccups, which is par for the course in PNG, the No Roads Team weaved their magic and we hit the track, met our porters and commenced our clinical program with Jackson, Joshua and Rodney – the local health care workers.
We hiked in to the village of Efogi and while the team were bathing in the river I met a young mother with a baby who was ill. Five minutes later there was a scream, as the baby had a febrile convulsion and stopped breathing. Our team came running, commenced CPR and weaved some other magic, that me as a mere mortal just gasped at. Specific medication for the child were quickly located in the dispensary due to the amazing work done by the March 2014 NR2H XPD team – truly ladies, it was touch and go and the work you did in March helped save this child’s life!!
Well, a few hours later the child was stable and six hours later, she was sitting up munching on a sweet potato. It was an amazing exercise in team work and what a learning experience and training opportunity for Jackson in his home village.
You can imagine the great reception we received in the next village as news got around the track. We had the honour of having the local pastor at Menari gather us for a short prayer of thanks.
The school visits are always a highlight of our expeditions and we were happy to find that the children remembered some of the exercises and stretches that Meg (March 2014 XPD Osteopath) taught them. Another highlight was the depth and colourful nature of the questions asked by the Year 7 to 9 boys during the sex education lessons. Their honesty and explicit questions were so well handled by the amazing “Lapug Mary’s”.
Another big win on this expedition was the fact that our team took up the challenge of being trained in conducting eye tests and did this along the track on behalf of PNG Eye Care. Fifteen people between the ages of eleven and eighty-six now have a better quality of life because they had the opportunity to be tested, prescribed and delivered specially made glasses within two weeks (thanks to fellow No Roads Guide Ruth).
So, as I sit back and reflect on another amazing expedition, I give thanks to Di, Anne, Viv, Beth, Sal, Angela , Ricki and the amazing Kirsty for the gift of another special suite of memories.
The school visits are always a highlight of our expeditions and we were happy to find that the children remembered some of the exercises and stretches that Meg (March 2014 XPD Osteopath) taught them. Another highlight was the depth and colourful nature of the questions asked by the Year 7 to 9 boys during the sex education lessons. Their honesty and explicit questions were so well handled by the amazing “Lapug Mary’s”.
Another big win on this expedition was the fact that our team took up the challenge of being trained in conducting eye tests and did this along the track on behalf of PNG Eye Care. Fifteen people between the ages of eleven and eighty-six now have a better quality of life because they had the opportunity to be tested, prescribed and delivered specially made glasses within two weeks (thanks to fellow No Roads Guide Ruth).
So, as I sit back and reflect on another amazing expedition, I give thanks to Di, Anne, Viv, Beth, Sal, Angela , Ricki and the amazing Kirsty for the gift of another special suite of memories.
Expedition Photo Gallery
