New vehicles and boats to strengthen family health services in Madang

The Madang Provincial Health Authority (MaPHA) has purchased nine new vehicles and six new boats, at a cost of more than K2 million, in a bid to strengthen outreach and patrol programs to the rural communities, particularly family health services.

The ten- seater vehicles and boats were officially handed over to the six districts last Friday by MAPHA's Chairman, Dr Boga Figa.

Each district got a vehicle and a boat.

The boats will complement the vehicles to reach coastal, island, and river communities where there is no road accessibility.

The other two vehicles will be used by officers at the provincial headquarters, whilst the dyna truck will be used for delivery of medical drugs to the districts.

The decision to buy the vehicles and boats was made by the MaPHA Board last year.

Dr Figa urged proper use of the vehicles and the boats, stating they are not to be used as ambulance or for shopping.

He also thanked all partners of Madang PHA the six district MPs, and the Madang Provincial Executive Council for their ongoing support, which made it possible for Madang PHA to keep delivering services in times of extreme difficulties.

Dr. Figa said all their support have improved Madang's health indicators.

"Our report for Madang since this Board was installed in 2024 was right at the bottom of the ladder. Of the 22 provinces, we were ranked last. We were like the rug that other provinces stepped on to clean their feet. However, from 2025 to 2026, there's been a tremendous improvement in our performance. We are now ranked number 10. Madang is now the 10th best performing PHA in the country.

"We can still improve on that. We can reach the single figure digit. We did it without these ones, the vehicles, and boats. Our challenge now is to use these enabling fleets to further improve our service delivery to the people of Madang Province," Dr Figa said.

The Chairman also made special mention of Middle Ramu and Raikos districts, whose performances have been outstanding; contributing to Madang's improvement in the national ranking.

"To those districts on the whiteline, you should have no more excuses whatsoever not to deliver MCH clinics and other programs. You now have vehicles and boats. Maternal and Child Health care contributes significantly to our ranking," he said.

Dr. Figa further emphasized that despite critics, the decisions they are making are to serve the children in rural districts.

He said, "Some decisions we make will not be very popular. But we are not in a popularity contest for the Miss or Mr PNG. We are not here to please everyone. We are doing this for the sake of our children in the big bush.

"Whatever little funds we have, we are carefully managing to serve our people."

MaPHA's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Martin Daimen, reiterated the Chairman's remarks, saying MaPHA is directly equipping the Public Health Directorate and Family Health Services teams to extend the patrols and outreach programs, deliver immunisations, support maternal and child health, and ensure that health services reach the rural areas, river communities and maritime populations.

Giving a situational analysis of MaPHA's performance in the last few years, Dr. Daimen stated that Madang Province has been consistently at the bottom of the table, even before the launching of the PHA reform.

"Immunisation and Ante Natal coverage were both less than 50 %.

"All rural health facilities did not have program vehicles for more than 10 years. Vehicle hires consumed 60% of our budget during immunisation program implementation, and our manpower was reduced to below 50%, Dr. Daimen revealed.

He pointed out that the most critical essentials and enablers of health services delivery are a skilled workforce, adequate finances, and reliable, effective, and efficient transportation system.

The CEO reiterated that the decision to purchase the vehicles and outboard motors was reached last year by the MaPHA Board, basically to address the poor immunisation and antenatal health indicators.

He also extended the management's appreciation to Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa and the Madang Provincial Government plus all other donors, partners, and stakeholders for their ongoing support to Madang PHA.

Meanwhile, a minute silence was also accorded yesterday at the beginning of the program as a sign of respect for the Late Sr. Karen Demok, who passed on early this week.

The Late Sr. Demok was a long- serving senior nursing officer at the Madang Provincial Hospital.