Dr. Sam Yockopua donates medical supplies and provides medical services to Mulitaka
As people of Mulitaka area of Porgera-Paiela District in Enga Province remain in a state of despair and sorrow from the natural disaster that decimated their villages and homes and took 162 lives, one of their own sons Dr. Sam Yockopua returned back home as a beacon of hope and source of strength with the donation of medical supplies and spent time with them from June 12-14, 2024.
He donated 23 cartons of medical supplies estimated nearly K60,000 consisting of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, ointments and povidone-iodine, bandages and plasters, and other supplies.
The donation was presented at Mulitaka Health Centre (MHC) witnessed by representatives of Enga PHA and was received by HEO OIC Andrew Noho.
While receiving the donation, OIC Noho said; “We have been struggling with medical supplies for some time, and when the disaster struck us, we also faced a medical supplies disaster.
“Your generous help will go a long way, not only here but all those surrounding communities as far as Nete, Lyaim, Yalyaim, and even Porgera area because the roadblock has also affected them.”
Dr Yockopua urged the Enga PHA to distribute supplies to all the health facilities in the affected communities including those in Tumundan, Porgera and Paiela.
He also requested for the reopening of Porgera District Hospital and upgrading and revitalizing of MHC given this opportunity.
Dr. Yockopua acknowledged those who assisted in making this humanitarian work possible, which included Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals [22 cartons], CS Pharmacy Limited [1 carton],
Air Niugini for free air freight POM-Hagen, Enga Provincial Government and Enga PHA for logistics support.
Even with my willing heart and mindset to help those in need, without their support, it would not have been possible,” he said.
Dr. Yockopua also spent some time teaching health workers on some basic Disaster Management in Health and how to recognize secondary waves of health problems.
He planned to return to run specific training in collaboration with National Department of Health and other stakeholders in Health.
He also spent some time with the local leaders who were heading the disaster relief coordination to resolve matters amicably to find common grounds.
The chairman of the local affected community and former council president Jaman Yandam thanked Dr. Yockopua not only for the much-needed medical supplies, but also mediating the process between his committee and Enga Provincial Government.
"Many of these things, we did not know how to do it. As a result, we were hitting brick walls and frustrating ourselves. Now that our leader and doctor has intervened, the Provincial Government understands us, and we too understand them, we will find common grounds to meet the customary obligations as our number one priority before we allow the road to be re-opened and normalcy to resume", said former Cr President Mr. Yandam.
Dr. Yockopua is now preparing to return with a second wave of medical supplies, health training, attend the customary obligation of haus-krai removal and mitigate ways forward.