No Roads Health - An Amazing Journey
They say that until you truly learn about the people around us you will never truly experience the world in its full glory.
Well the amazing group of volunteers on the recent No Roads Health trek are right in their element of experiencing the world in its full glory. The team of nurses, teachers and admin professionals really learnt about our closest neighbours to Australia, the people of Papua New Guinea. For eight days the team of nine got up close and personal with individuals from the most unique environment in the world, The Kokoda Track.
Our team arrived in Port Moresby and were instantly greeted with tropical climate that is Port Moresby. A quick drive to the hotel and the guests settled in to their hotel. A star studded dinner was had with Grant Muddle (Port Moresby General Hospital CEO), Anna Megueria (Corporate Blood Drive Marketing Manger), Annette Coppola (Kokoda Initiative Health Advisor) and Drew Keys (PNG Eye Care/ Biren Holden Vision). The team was able to get a big picture idea of what their trip would involve and what health care in the country was like.
The next day it was all hands on deck working alongside local medical staff at '6 Mile Clinic'. A local Health clinic that acts basic health care for people in and around Port Moresby. After a good six hours work and everyone was exhausted yet extremely proud of what they had achieved. Seeing almost 200 patients. Then afterwards a short drive to Bomana War Cemetery where the group was able to pay their respects to those who gave their lives so we could live ours. Our trip back into town was done with a tour of the city, seeing the developments and growth that has and continues to occur in the city.
Well the amazing group of volunteers on the recent No Roads Health trek are right in their element of experiencing the world in its full glory. The team of nurses, teachers and admin professionals really learnt about our closest neighbours to Australia, the people of Papua New Guinea. For eight days the team of nine got up close and personal with individuals from the most unique environment in the world, The Kokoda Track.
Our team arrived in Port Moresby and were instantly greeted with tropical climate that is Port Moresby. A quick drive to the hotel and the guests settled in to their hotel. A star studded dinner was had with Grant Muddle (Port Moresby General Hospital CEO), Anna Megueria (Corporate Blood Drive Marketing Manger), Annette Coppola (Kokoda Initiative Health Advisor) and Drew Keys (PNG Eye Care/ Biren Holden Vision). The team was able to get a big picture idea of what their trip would involve and what health care in the country was like.
The next day it was all hands on deck working alongside local medical staff at '6 Mile Clinic'. A local Health clinic that acts basic health care for people in and around Port Moresby. After a good six hours work and everyone was exhausted yet extremely proud of what they had achieved. Seeing almost 200 patients. Then afterwards a short drive to Bomana War Cemetery where the group was able to pay their respects to those who gave their lives so we could live ours. Our trip back into town was done with a tour of the city, seeing the developments and growth that has and continues to occur in the city.
Sunday saw us fly into the centre of the Kokoda Track getting a birds eye view of villages nestled into the mountains. A quick check of our gear, packs on and we were off walking the Kokoda Track. A steep climb into Kagi got us sweating and working hard, but what really took our breath away was women and children of the Kagi village who were waiting to greet us with a beautiful song. A bit of lunch, a shower and short break then saw the health team and admin helpers work their magic in their first clinic on the Kokoda Track, working alongside the Village Health Volunteers and Community Health Care Workers.
An early rise and the team were on their way to Kavovo School. The medical team conducting health promotion in the school and the educational team getting a chance to speak to teachers and administrators of the school. The afternoon was into Naduri to an amazingly resources Health Clinic.
After a bit of rain overnight made for a slippery descent out of Naduri and a few laughs along the way. The next village was Efogi and a long day at the clinic checking all school aged children and treating any locals who presented themselves. The following day was a big day of trekking stopping at Brigade Hill for a history talk and a moving ceremony. A long descent was finished with a swim in a fresh jungle stream and walk across a jungle vine bridge. The afternoon was spent in the Menari Health clinic where the team really had their routine together and were working together well.
After five days on the Kokoda Track we flew out early in the morning (after a little safety briefing from No Roads Health Airlines). Drew Keys was able to show the team the new training facility for PNG Eye Care at UPNG, the work and dedicated by his team is clearly evident. A great facility with a great plan for the future. Then it was onto Port Moresby General Hospital where we spoke to Grant Muddle and he spoke of the great work that happens at the hospital, we can clearly see why he is so proud the hospital and its achievements.
After an amazing journey with a team filled with incredible people with such a diverse range of skills, everybody was buzzing.
To the team and all that supported us along the way. You are incredible people. Your work in PNG was very much needed and will be remembered. So please remember to either come back again or tell your colleagues.
Daniel Hogarth
Expedition Guide and Kokoda Operations Manager
No Roads Expeditions
[email protected]
An early rise and the team were on their way to Kavovo School. The medical team conducting health promotion in the school and the educational team getting a chance to speak to teachers and administrators of the school. The afternoon was into Naduri to an amazingly resources Health Clinic.
After a bit of rain overnight made for a slippery descent out of Naduri and a few laughs along the way. The next village was Efogi and a long day at the clinic checking all school aged children and treating any locals who presented themselves. The following day was a big day of trekking stopping at Brigade Hill for a history talk and a moving ceremony. A long descent was finished with a swim in a fresh jungle stream and walk across a jungle vine bridge. The afternoon was spent in the Menari Health clinic where the team really had their routine together and were working together well.
After five days on the Kokoda Track we flew out early in the morning (after a little safety briefing from No Roads Health Airlines). Drew Keys was able to show the team the new training facility for PNG Eye Care at UPNG, the work and dedicated by his team is clearly evident. A great facility with a great plan for the future. Then it was onto Port Moresby General Hospital where we spoke to Grant Muddle and he spoke of the great work that happens at the hospital, we can clearly see why he is so proud the hospital and its achievements.
After an amazing journey with a team filled with incredible people with such a diverse range of skills, everybody was buzzing.
To the team and all that supported us along the way. You are incredible people. Your work in PNG was very much needed and will be remembered. So please remember to either come back again or tell your colleagues.
Daniel Hogarth
Expedition Guide and Kokoda Operations Manager
No Roads Expeditions
[email protected]
