St John ambulance will be hosting its annual charity ball at the end of this month, July 30 at the Dynasty restaurant in Port Moresby.
The ball has been held for a number of years to raise money towards helping the service meet emergency health needs of Port Moresby, National Capital District and Central Province residents.
This year, the service aims to raise K290, 000 which will go towards purchasing two new ambulances with full emergency fit out, including lights and sirens.
Matt Cannon, Advisor to St John Ambulance Service said the demand for emergency ambulance is increasing and with lack of funding from the government, the service now relies on the assistance of the community.
“This ball is a way St. John can get fundraising support from the Port Moresby community. The funding from government is not enough to support St John’s full emergency services. This leaves a gap for which St John must raise money to fill and we are now relying more on the community to help raise money to fill this funding gap.
“St John would like to purchase new ambulances and rapid response vehicles with the funds raised. The remaining funds will be used for operational expenses,” he said.
The significant reduction in the health department budget this year has meant St John receiving much less funding from the health department than in previous years.
St John has been a benefactor of strong community support.
“Digicel has provided significant support to St John’s activities over the past year. We also receive support from Trakpro and various media outlets. Duffy Cafe has been continually raising funds for us that we use to purchase first aid equipment,” Matt said.
He added that the ball is also an opportunity to show their corporate and government supporters the great work performed by St John’s amazing staff 24 hours every day of the year.
“St John is the emergency ambulance for the 1.5 million people in Port Moresby and the surrounding provinces. We are the way very sick or badly injured people can access the hospital system in an emergency.
“Urgent interventions that our ambulance officers provide could include administering vital oxygen to the patient or using a special device that allows the officers to breath for the patient, or applying a tourniquet bandage to control life threatening bleeding from an badly cut limb.
“Without St John’s service, many of these patients would die on the scene, or before getting to hospital.
“St John provide first aid training to communities and business, teaching the vital skills to sustain life until an ambulance or other form of medical care can reach the patient. We also now deliver courses that teach people about how to manage basic medical care in their village, such as how to clean a small wound to prevent it becoming infected.”
To purchase tickets email ball@stjohn.org.pg
Tickets are K500 for an individual
K2500 for a table
(St John and Snakebite Rescue touring villages in Central province making sure care can be brought to where it is needed)
Picture Source: St John Ambulance Service