After years of planning and delays due to COVID, a fully equipped dental semi trailer has arrived in Papua New Guinea for the purpose of providing dental services, training opportunities, and health and wellbeing education to schools in the National Capital District (NCD).
The trailer will be operated by YWAM Medical Ships Australia & Papua New Guinea (YWAM MS) and is equipped with three brand new dental chairs, sterilization, and x-ray facilities.
YWAM MS’ Managing Director, Mr Ken Mulligan OBE AM, said the desire is to utilise the trailer to help meet the growing need for accessible dental services in the country in collaboration with local health and dental authorities.
“To have the trailer finally here in Port Moresby is wonderful; many supporters have generously given to help make this possible.
“Our aim is to have the trailer operational in the next few months as we continue to meet with government, businesses, schools and key stakeholders to help finalise the details. This is an exceptional piece of equipment that will provide dental care and a platform for oral education and wellbeing initiatives to the youth of the NCD,” said Mr Mulligan.
The trailer will be managed, housed and serviced at the YWAM MS Port Moresby satellite campus that is currently under development in Gabutu. The campus will help provide training opportunities for young people, and will serve as an outreach hub for YWAM MS’ work across the nation.
YWAM MS Patron for Papua New Guinea, Sir Rabbie Namaliu GCL CSM KCMG, said he was proud to see the trailer in Port Moresby.
“PNG has one the highest rates of cancer of the lip and oral cavity per capita in the world – the trailer has the potential to provide thousands of students with essential care and education.
“YWAM MS have provided dental care onboard the YWAM Medical Ship to remote coastal communities for the past 11 years. Over 43,000 dental procedures have been delivered and many local dentists and students have had the opportunity to receive further upskilling and mentoring while being exposed to the needs in rural areas. It is great to see this mobile model multiplied with the semi trailer,” said Sir Rabbie.
The trailer’s visits to schools would be matched with activity based learning school seminars focused on personal development and wellbeing delivered by YWAM MS’ passionate young volunteers.
The YWAM Training and Medical Ship, MV YWAM PNG, is currently serving remote communities in Middle Fly District, Western Province. Over the past 12 months, the YWAM MS team has administered more than 12,850 routine immunisations for children and over 3,600 COVID-19 immunisations for adults across more than 170 village engagements.
The YWAM Dental Trailer’s arrival to Port Moresby has been supported by a range of companies, including Henry Schein, Ok Tedi Mining, Agility Logistics and Ela Motors.
R-L: YWAM MS Student, Willie Mora, Chairman of the Moita Koita Assembly, Hon. Dadi Toka, Patron for YWAM MS, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, YWAM MS Managing Director, Mr Ken Mulligan, Governor for Oro Province, Hon. Gary Juffa, First Lady Rachel Marape, Member for Moresby South, Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, Governor for NCD, Hon. Powes Parkop, YWAM Volunteer, Ms Venau Aiga.
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