A retired medical officer, Sister Anna Sandaba from Manus has been serving her people at Panuselu Health Centre when medical staff absent from their duties.
The Health Centre requires the services of seven workers but only three are working with only two available at any given time.
Sr Sandaba always stepped in when none of the officers are around or where there is an emergency to attend to.
For the past year she has been doing this and has never been paid the promised allowance but she keeps on doing it.
"It's difficult for me to say no because people's lives are at risk. Even when there is an officer around, there are times when certain emergencies are beyond their experience," she said.
She also expressed concern that a health centre big as this is constantly being run by lower ranking officers as workers assigned to run the centre are always running away.
"I feel like giving up but I live on the island and most people will see me every day anyway," she said.