Kumura Foundation

The company of the late Chief Jacob Luke has given an open-back Toyota Land Cruiser, named ‘099’ as logistical support for the Foundation’s projects, serving in the Northern Corridor of Simbu (Kundiawa-Gembogl-Bundi) since June 2023 in the areas of rural health, education and community services.  

“It is a great story for the nation of community partnership with the country’s largest trucking company serving a remote community,” said the director of Kumura Foundation, Vincent Kumura.

The presentation was done at the Gembogl Orphan Resource Centre in Simbu by Willie Komba, a representative of Mapai Transport.

Upon receiving the vehicle key, Vincent Kumura, the director of Kumura Foundation, said: “This year is our year of projects.

“In partnership with the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and the Gembogl Orphan Resource Centre, we will be building 10 community health posts of Bundi and a 60-person orphan students dormitory at Gembogl, Simbu, including a few other major activities that require logistical support.

Director of Kumura Foundation, Vincent Kumura, said the foundation, under its community service focus, has partnered with two local SME owners to mobilise 49 youths to clear up the road.

“It took the boys almost two weeks to clear up just a pathway for the vehicle to pass through using chainsaws, digging sticks, crowbars, bush knives and spades,” said Kumura.

“The foundation is very thankful to Nelson Gandai of Yandera and David Mongoma of Simbu for mobilising their boys to work, including the 16 youths of Pomie Village of Upper Bundi.

Under its ‘community service’ focus, the Kumura Foundation is patrol grading the 5km road from near Gowe Bridge in north Simbu to Mondia Pass.

The foundation undertook the activity as its ambulance, stationed at Snow Pass, Bundi, was unable to transport referral patients to Simbu for proper and timely medical treatment.

The road maintenance will also ensure access for locals, PMV owners and SMEs.

The patrol grading started yesterday and will continue for the next three days.

Director of the foundation, Vincent Kumura, described it as a “great story for the nation” at the conclusion of their program on the 29^th of December.

Trekkers made up of medical officers, community health worker (CHW) students and members of the Kumura Foundation concluded their Travel2Change rural outreach program on the 27^th of December in the Ramu Valley plains.

From there, they made their way to Madang Resort, where they set up camp at ‘Sugeng Aben’.

On December 13, a team of 29 trekkers trekked from Kegesuglo in Simbu to Bundi to conduct a 14-day rural medical patrol through the foundation’s annual ‘Travel2Change’ program.

The team included a medical doctor, a physio, two registered nurses and 11 community health worker (CHW) students of Kundiawa CHW Training Institution and trek members of Kumura Foundation.

From Snow Pass, Upper Bundi, to Tawiya, Lower Bundi, the team saw and treated over 700 patients, referred over 30 patients and also ran out of medical supplies.

Running a business at the foot of Mt Wilhelm comes with its unique challenges.

For Betty Higgins, the sustainability of her lodge and trout farm, located 2,800m above sea level, hinges on her ingenuity.

“If you move your cameras around, you will see total jungles, total bush around us,” she told a visiting media team from Lae.

She was part of the 177 patients who were seen and treated by the ‘Travel2Change’ trek team of Kumura Foundation at Snow Pass, Madang Province.

The ‘Travel2Change’ trek team of Kumura Foundation started their rural clinic at Snow Pass on Tuesday, December 14^th, under the theme ‘A campaign against malaria’.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 177 Snow Pass patients were seen and treated, while five patients were referred to the nearest health centres.

Community-based organisation, Kumura Foundation, is pushing to change the narrative.

A media team was invited for the first time to cover Kumura Foundation’s Travel2Change rural clinic, which aims to treat over 1,000 patients within the far-flung areas of Upper and Lower Bundi in Madang Province.

In partnership with Mapai Transport, the team made the 11-hour journey by road from Lae to Simbu on Sunday, the 12^th of December, where they spent the night at Betty’s Lodge.

Chairman, Jacob Sole Luke, applauded Kumura Foundation for their efforts in addressing rural health issues in the remote Central Bismarck Range.

“We are happy to support your noble efforts with these items so you can deliver them to where they are needed most,” he stated.

When receiving the items, director of Kumura Foundation, Vincent Kumura, thanked Luke and his team for the partnership and support.