SP Brewery Ltd has announced a K5,000 donation towards the 2017 Medical Symposium.
This is to help push fundraising for this important annual event.
The Medical Society of Papua New Guinea (MSPNG) has set itself a target of K1.5 million to improve access to surgery and anesthetic care for all Papua New Guineans, regardless of location and affordability.
The MSPNG hopes to reach this figure through donations and sponsorships before the 2017 Medical Symposium, scheduled for September.
Monies raised hope to assist in formulating a ‘National Surgical and Anesthetic Policy’.
SP’s corporate affairs manager, John Nilkare, presented a cheque recently to the MSPNG’s Organising Committee and acknowledged the tremendous work and achievements of the Medical Society in PNG.
The annual symposiums are seen as a medium for professionals and stakeholders in the health fraternity to present updated scientific research in PNG, to guide national policies and standard treatment for diseases in the country. This year marks 53 years of this event.
“Each year, these symposiums continue to be an expensive exercise to host, therefore, we thank everyone for being here to show their support,” said Professor Nakapi Tefuarani, President of the Medical Society of PNG, Dean School of Medicine & Health Sciences, UPNG, during the small but significant gathering.
“The MSPNG is our flagship on the globe, in terms of research. The world knows about our research achievements through the PNG Medical Journal but regretfully, our research achievements have not received the support it deserves from the Government.”
Some of the research achievements mentioned by Prof Tefuarani include Kuru Knowledge, which led to prion disease; pig-bel or enteritis necroticans vaccine which led to its elimination; tetanus toxoid, leading to reduction of neonatal tetanus in the world and now, anti-venom for snake bites.
The recent meet and greet saw the attendance of other corporate houses and private businesses. A few other companies also pledged their support towards the 2017 Medical Symposium.
The focus for this year’s Symposium is ‘Access to Safe Surgery and Safe Anesthesia’.
From left to right: Dr. Osborne Liko (Chairman of 2017 Medical Symposium Organizing Committee), Professor Nakapi Tefuarani (President of PNG Medical Society), Dr. Paki Mollumi (Chairman of the Fundraising Committee - 2017 Medical Symposium and Corporate Affairs Manager, John Nilkare, presenting a K5,000 cheque, on behalf of SP Brewery, to members of the MSPNG, recently in Port Moresby