Church delivers K1.3 million medical boost to Madang Hospital
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated vital medical equipment worth more than K1.3 million to the Madang Provincial Hospital.
A senior doctor at the hospital described the donation as a long-awaited “wish list”, saying the equipment will significantly improve patient care and service delivery.
Director of Curative Health at the Madang Provincial Hospital, Dr Jiuth Gawi said the hospital had been hoping to acquire the equipment for the past four to five years, and the donation has now made that possible.
He said what began as a small conversation between Madang Church President Nyman Hota and Madang Provincial Health Authority (MaPHA) staff eventually led to the major donation.
The equipment was jointly funded by the Church and MaPHA under an 80:20 cost-sharing arrangement. The Church contributed more than K800,000, while MaPHA paid the remaining K260,000.
“God can pull strings here and there to make things like this possible. When we have the right people at the head [referring to the Governor Ramsey Pariwa and Provincial Administrator Daniel Aloi], God makes things like this possible,” said Dr Figa.
In recent years, Madang Provincial Hospital has also received support from organisations such as the Mineral Resources and Development Authority, Kumul Petroleum, Ramu Nickel Mine, Rotary, and other Madang-based groups including Friends of the Hospital, led by Siegfried Beschel, Madang Art Maniacs, Garry Litz and friends.
On behalf of the MaPHA Board, Dr Figa thanked all partners for their continued support.
“A lot of these things we couldn't buy with our own budget. Now that we have them here, my biggest challenge to the MaPHA administration is to get the human resource sorted out immediately.
“We have delayed this process for a long time, and it's affecting service delivery at this hospital. Let's start training new people to operate and look after these machines.
“These are very expensive equipment, and the management must start recruiting people and start training them on how to look after these machines,” Dr Figa stressed.
Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Daimen also thanked the Church for the partnership, which resulted in the donation of 24 pieces of medical equipment.
“This equipment will go a long way to saving a lot of lives in Madang Province and from other centres who come to seek our services here.
“Madang Provincial Hospital is a very special hospital apart from Port Moresby General Hospital. Apart from the services it provides, it is also a teaching hospital, so we need this equipment to save lives as well as train our upcoming health care workers and leaders to maintain and sustain service delivery to our population.
“Work has already progressed to purchase few more equipment, and also we will work on our plans to improve health infrastructures which is one of the pillars of KRA number 5 of the National Health Plan 2021- 2030,” Dr Daimen said.
Meanwhile, Church President Nyman Hota said he was humbled to represent the Church at the event and thanked hospital staff for continuing to serve the people despite many challenges.
He said the Church focuses not only on spiritual development but also on physical wellbeing, which is why it supports health initiatives.
President Hota told doctors and nurses that they are pillars of strength and hope for the people of Madang.