YWAM Medical Ships Australia & Papua New Guinea (YWAM MS) have donated much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to assist Papua New Guinea’s response to COVID-19.
The PPE, including 20,000 gloves and 3,620 masks, were donated after the National Department of Health and the World Health Organization requested support for frontline health workers in the COVID-19 response.
“We thank YWAM for the PPE and we encourage other organisations to do likewise,” said Incident Manager of the National Control Centre for the National Pandemic, Dr. Daoni Esorom.
The donation will be followed by YWAM MS’ training and medical ship’s, MV YWAM PNG, redeployment to PNG waters next month.
YWAM MS Managing Director, Mr Ken Mulligan, said that they were delighted to be returning to PNG after making the difficult decision to suspend their outreach schedule last year due to the travel restrictions put in place in response to the pandemic.
“YWAM MS has now received a formal invitation from authorities in Papua New Guinea to return to PNG for the purpose of strengthening essential healthcare in rural communities.
“While the COVID situation is continually evolving, we plan to have the vessel in a state of readiness to respond flexibly in 2021 as circumstances evolve. The ship will initially dock in Port Moresby, with plans now underway to resume rural healthcare patrols to Western Province for an initial six month deployment.
“We are eager to return and look forward to being back in PNG waters very soon,” said Mr Mulligan.
The MV YWAM PNG and her crew are due to set sail from Australia early next month.
YWAM MS is proudly supported by the PNG National Government, Australian Aid, Puma Energy, Henry Schein Halas, Network Communications, Port of Townsville, Morobe, Gulf, Western, Central, Oro and Milne Bay Provincial Governments, Townsville City Council, 1300SMILES, Honeycombes Property Development Group, Parkside Group, Pacific Islands International, PVW Partners, Dawson & Associates, Lions Recycle for Sight, Manolos Aviation, AkzoNobel, Gearbox Solutions, PNG Ports Corporation, Sohe District Development Authority, Kiriwina-Goodenough District Development Authority, Haymans, Ela Motors, Trukai, Ports North, Luminell, Northern Management Group, Lancini Property & Development, Mitsubishi Electric, Coutts Redington, Medical Dental Solutions, Stanley Hotel and Suites, Pro-Ma Systems, Pacific Marine Group, Universal Cranes, Rotarians Against Malaria, Alcon, Mun Global, Sentry Medical, Hu-Friedy, Kingdom Air Conditioning, Alphapharm, Septodont, Essilor Vision Foundation, Mocom, Days for Girls, GE Healthcare, 3M, Pacific Towing, Austal, BuzzOff, Wilson Ryan Grose Lawyers, PwC and Mylan.