Electrical wholesaler, Haymans Electrical, is teaming up with Townsville-based charity, YWAM Medical Ships, to bring solar power to remote health centres in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Haymans Electrical are assisting by donating $15,000 toward five solar light kits that will be delivered and installed via the YWAM Medical Ship, MV YWAM PNG, in remote health centres in PNG’s southern region over the next few months.
Haymans Electrical Townsville Manager, Mark Heselwood, said that the company is proud to be partnering with YWAM Medical Ships as they work together toward strengthening health service delivery in PNG’s rural areas.
“I attended YWAM’s annual fundraiser in Townsville last year and was moved by the work YWAM does remote areas of PNG.
“Being an electrical company, donating funds toward solar kits is a good fit for us. We are really pleased to be working with a charity that has the capacity to not only deliver and install the kits, but also provide training and ongoing maintenance and follow up,” said Mr Heselwood.
The solar kit consists of solar panels, lights for four rooms, head lamps, a battery charger, re-chargeable batteries, mobile phone charger, and a foetal doppler to monitor a baby’s heartbeat during delivery.
YWAM Medical Ships Managing Director, Mr Ken Mulligan, said that YWAM Medical Ships has installed 3 solar kits in remote health centres in collaboration with PNG’s provincial health authorities, and had hoped to multiply that into more villages across PNG.
“There are some amazing health workers serving in very isolated communities in PNG with limited resources available to them. One of those health workers is Sister Antonia, who has served as a midwife in Western Province for over 30 years.
“Antonia used to deliver babies in the middle of the night using the light of just her mobile phone. A few years ago her health centre received a solar kit. A year after the kit was installed, Antonia shares that the kit has made her job much easier, and much more safe.
“The gift of the solar kit is a great way to not only strengthen and build capacity in these faithful health workers, but to also cheer them on in the great work they’re doing.
“We are grateful for Haymans’ support in helping us start to take the installation of these kits to another level,” said Mr Mulligan.
The MV YWAM PNG is currently serving in Central Province. Almost 100 volunteers from 14 different nations are onboard for the voyage.
Since the beginning of 2017, the MV YWAM PNG and her team of volunteers have delivered healthcare and training to over 6,000 patients in 41 remote villages in PNG.
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