Kiriwina-Goodenough welcomes YWAM medical ship

YWAM’s Training and Medical Ship, MV YWAM PNG, arrived to Kiriwina Island on Sunday, Nov 13, to begin a two-week collaborative outreach patrol to Kiriwina-Goodenough District.

This immediately follows a successful patrol to Gulf Province.

Upon MV YWAM PNG’s arrival to Kaibola on Sunday, Member for Kiriwina-Goodenough Open, Douglas Tomuriesa, presented a cheque for K100,000 to YWAM Medical Ships on behalf of the Kiriwina-Goodenough District Development Authority (DDA).

He was fulfilling a pledge toward annual operational expenses for YWAM’s Training and Medical Ship, the MV YWAM PNG.

During the welcome and cheque presentation, Minister Tomuriesa expressed his gratitude for Kiriwina-Goodenough DDA's partnership with YWAM Medical Ships and shared that the people in his district have been longing for such services to come.

YWAM Medical Ships Managing Director, Ken Mulligan, said he was grateful for the DDA's support and the opportunity to visit Kiriwina alongside over 100 other volunteers from 13 different countries.

“From my heart, I am very grateful for the privilege of being here. For us to come to this island is a great privilege,” said Mulligan.

“We were first here with the Pacific Link in 2014 and now we are here with a larger ship. We feel very honoured and do not take this for granted.

“We’ve been able to see a wonderful amount of activity throughout Papua New Guinea, but this ship isn’t Australia’s ship, it is Papua New Guinea’s ship.

“Papua New Guinea invested strongly in this ship and as we work together, we will see much more.”

The MV YWAM PNG’s recent renovations include the construction of an improved patient waiting area, medical re-stock room, training space and the addition of a new extended-range patrol boat.

Other major supporters of YWAM Medical Ships’ work in PNG include the PNG National Government, Puma Energy, Steamships Trading Company, PNG Ports Corporation and Morobe, Milne Bay, Oro, Central and Western Provincial Governments, Pro-Ma Systems the Sohe District Development Authority, Manolos Aviation and Australian Aid.

(Member for Kiriwina-Goodenough Open, Douglas Tomuriesa, meeting the YWAM Medical Ships team)

Author: 
Press release