No Roads Health - Central Track - Peter Ranasinghe – March April 2017
“The world does not have to be perfect………………. To be Wonderful!”
Its April 6th 2017 and we stand at the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby, 75 years after the Japanese landed on the Northern Beaches of Papua New Guinea marking the start of the Kokoda Campaign. 3779 headstones for fallen diggers stand in perfect formation, glistening in the sun, like a Brigade of soldiers still standing on parade. Solemn reflections as the Last Post sound out across the grounds. Attending this memorial service is as a small team of dedicated Health Professionals who had made the journey from Australia to P.N.G a week previous to not just give thanks and pay respects but to provide much needed medical assistance and mentoring to the villages at the heart of the Kokoda track. For the team it was a fitting way to end a trip.
The April No Roads Health Central Track expedition covered 7 medical clinics in total with the first two being in Port Moresby and the remainder on the track at various aid posts in each village.
The team was directed once again by Clinical co-ordinator Kristin who had led several previous expeditions. The rest of the team consisted of Nurses Mary, Cheryl, Jillian, Hayley, Elizabeth, Nicole as well as Georgina who is currently completing her nursing studies. The trip was also supported by Anita from PNG Eye Care who performed eye assessments in the villages and the locals were able to leave with new glasses straight away.
From the very first clinics held in Moresby it was evident the depth of experience that was on hand in this group and the way their skills all complimented each other was amazing to watch. On the first day we were fortunate to be able to attend the 6 mile Clinic and to perform a clinic at the school where families of people who are from the Kokoda track area live when in Moresby. The smiles on the exhausted team’s faces when we left the clinic at the compound late that evening as the children ran along the bus, waving at us was priceless.
“The world does not have to be perfect………………. To be Wonderful!”
Its April 6th 2017 and we stand at the Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby, 75 years after the Japanese landed on the Northern Beaches of Papua New Guinea marking the start of the Kokoda Campaign. 3779 headstones for fallen diggers stand in perfect formation, glistening in the sun, like a Brigade of soldiers still standing on parade. Solemn reflections as the Last Post sound out across the grounds. Attending this memorial service is as a small team of dedicated Health Professionals who had made the journey from Australia to P.N.G a week previous to not just give thanks and pay respects but to provide much needed medical assistance and mentoring to the villages at the heart of the Kokoda track. For the team it was a fitting way to end a trip.
The April No Roads Health Central Track expedition covered 7 medical clinics in total with the first two being in Port Moresby and the remainder on the track at various aid posts in each village.
The team was directed once again by Clinical co-ordinator Kristin who had led several previous expeditions. The rest of the team consisted of Nurses Mary, Cheryl, Jillian, Hayley, Elizabeth, Nicole as well as Georgina who is currently completing her nursing studies. The trip was also supported by Anita from PNG Eye Care who performed eye assessments in the villages and the locals were able to leave with new glasses straight away.
From the very first clinics held in Moresby it was evident the depth of experience that was on hand in this group and the way their skills all complimented each other was amazing to watch. On the first day we were fortunate to be able to attend the 6 mile Clinic and to perform a clinic at the school where families of people who are from the Kokoda track area live when in Moresby. The smiles on the exhausted team’s faces when we left the clinic at the compound late that evening as the children ran along the bus, waving at us was priceless.
After flying by helicopter from Port Moresby into Maraba, the crew immediately set to work to set up and conduct the first clinic on the track. It was the first time that No Roads Health had performed a clinic here and the local people were very happy that they had an opportunity to access health care in their own village. This was evident with the number of people who attended the clinic. After everyone was seen the team had the task of walking from Maraba down the steep descent to the valley and then had to climb back up to the next village of Kagi where they had lunch then started their second clinic for the day. Once again the attendance was very good, which meant that the clinic ran well into the evening and dinner for the first night on the track was shared under torch light in the dark. Likewise the following days consisted of early morning walks to the next village and afternoons filled with health assessments and training that went well into the evening. The sheer number of locals who attended the clinics at Kagi, Naduri, Efogi and Menari was proof that the presence of the team was much needed and appreciated by the locals.
The team had the opportunity to talk with local school children about health and wellbeing and the principals were very happy to have the nurses and the Health Care Workers discuss various physical and social issues.
To the local Community Health Workers Jackson, Alice, thank you for engaging the locals to attend the clinics and for applying yourselves to polish your skills and to learn new things. You all play a vital role in your communities and we are lucky to have you as part of the team.
Quote of the week came from Local Pastor who commented on the clinical work and mentoring provided by the team for the local health care workers and community:
“I have worked in remote PNG for nearly 30 years and I have never seen such a complete group of people pass on so much medical knowledge and expertise to our CHW’s and VHV (Community Health Workers and Village Health Volunteers.) To the No Roads Health nurses, when you go home please make sure that on behalf of us you thank your families for helping us out and sending such important people.”
With our final clinic performed in Menari, the team flew out early the next morning back to Port Moresby where they attended the Bomana War Cemetery to pay their respects to those buried there. Nothing needed to be said. The results spoke for themselves.
The team had the opportunity to talk with local school children about health and wellbeing and the principals were very happy to have the nurses and the Health Care Workers discuss various physical and social issues.
To the local Community Health Workers Jackson, Alice, thank you for engaging the locals to attend the clinics and for applying yourselves to polish your skills and to learn new things. You all play a vital role in your communities and we are lucky to have you as part of the team.
Quote of the week came from Local Pastor who commented on the clinical work and mentoring provided by the team for the local health care workers and community:
“I have worked in remote PNG for nearly 30 years and I have never seen such a complete group of people pass on so much medical knowledge and expertise to our CHW’s and VHV (Community Health Workers and Village Health Volunteers.) To the No Roads Health nurses, when you go home please make sure that on behalf of us you thank your families for helping us out and sending such important people.”
With our final clinic performed in Menari, the team flew out early the next morning back to Port Moresby where they attended the Bomana War Cemetery to pay their respects to those buried there. Nothing needed to be said. The results spoke for themselves.
Clinical Achievements:
Highlights of our trip were:
To the clinical crew, the people of PNG needed you and you delivered. I have no idea how to properly thank you all for being part of a very important team. Thanks for allowing me to witness and be part of such an amazing journey, for letting me guide you all through remote PNG to deliver your skills to the locals who desperately needed your help.
To Stewart Kreltszheim and Jo Bergman, the tireless work from you and previous No Roads Health expeditions has laid the foundations to make trips like this possible. If you or someone you know has the skills required to help on an upcoming expedition, please get in touch. The people of PNG really do need you and appreciate our help!
I look forward to working with you all again soon.
Peter Ranasinghe
Expedition Guide
No Roads Expeditions
[email protected]
- Continued Mentoring of community Health Care Workers and Village Health Volunteers.
- 331 clinical assessments including Neo Natal and Child Health Checks.
- Vaccinations and immunisations updated in the villages.
- Oral Health education to school students.
- Social, sexual and reproductive education to grade 8 & 9 students
Highlights of our trip were:
- Mentoring local Health Care Workers to confidently provide remote medical aid for their community.
- Seeing adults and children benefit immediately from the assessment and provision of optical glasses.
- Memorial services held at Bomana and Brigade Hill.
To the clinical crew, the people of PNG needed you and you delivered. I have no idea how to properly thank you all for being part of a very important team. Thanks for allowing me to witness and be part of such an amazing journey, for letting me guide you all through remote PNG to deliver your skills to the locals who desperately needed your help.
To Stewart Kreltszheim and Jo Bergman, the tireless work from you and previous No Roads Health expeditions has laid the foundations to make trips like this possible. If you or someone you know has the skills required to help on an upcoming expedition, please get in touch. The people of PNG really do need you and appreciate our help!
I look forward to working with you all again soon.
Peter Ranasinghe
Expedition Guide
No Roads Expeditions
[email protected]