News
2020 – AUS. HIGH COM’S FIRST VISIT TO KOMPIAM HOSPITAL
The Australian High-Commissioner, Jon Philp, visited Kompiam District Hospital in June of 2020. He was accompanied by Sir Peter Ipatus on this, his first visit to the Hospital. He toured the hospital facilities, and stopped by the school(Kompiam International School).
2020 – MBBS 5TH YEAR STUDENTS RESUME TRAINING PROGRAM AFTER COVID
June of 2020 saw the arrival of the first batch of MBBS 5th year students from the University of Papua New Guinea. And throughout 2020 and 2021, more students joined. Since 2019, COVID had prevented students from doing placement in Kompiam Hospital. However, we are pleased to resume the training program.
DR. RYAN’S LAST DAY IN KOMPIAM – 1st AUGUST
Ryan has been a tremendous help at the hospital for the last 6 months. Being a familiar face, he’s adjusted pretty well to life here. Having come twice as a medical student, this time he’s here as a professional doctor and as been serving along side our staff. He has been a great colleague and friend to us all and we will surely miss him.
We are grateful for all his services and we pray God will continue to use him wherever he goes from here.
GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME! – 30th JULY
Kompiam Hospital like other Christian Health Services, receives monthly grants from the government for payment of salaries and the operational costs. However, due to delays and inconsistencies in the payment of the grants, the delivery of health services has been sluggish.
Having been pushed to the limit, we have had to make some tough decisions regarding the services, in order to cut costs and stretch our limited medical supplies. The hospital has shut down its clinics, routine admissions and elective surgery as of last month. The only services available are emergencies. Emergency surgery, dental and the labour ward is open. Patients with minor cases have been discharged while those who are seriously ill remain.
This has been a very difficult time for our members of staff as they are also directly affected. By the first week of June, we had finally reached our wits’ end financially, and were unable to pay our staff, which was first of a kind. The staff were given two options, whether to stay on and work for the daily pay of K20 worth of food from the hospital canteen, or, stay at home without pay until new grant had come in. Half of the staff stayed home while the other half came to work. At the end of the second week of June, we had received the monthly grant which ensured the return of all staff, who have worked at full capacity up to today.
Unfortunately, due to cuts to services, our greatest fear is that the people requiring these services will suffer. But for now, we are doing what we can with what resources we have available to serve. As we do, we hold fast the belief that God is good in all (good or bad) circumstances, we can be able to look upward to him for peace and strength to carry on serving. In doing so, we can be able to demonstrate the character of He who sends us and who loved first and best.
RURAL BLOCK ATTACHMENT FOR PNG MED STUDENTS – 09TH JUNE
We are pleased to have five 5th year medical students from the University of Papua New Guinea, Medical Faculty here with us. Arriving last week Tuesday, they will be remain in Kompiam for four weeks carrying out their rural blocks as the training program recommences after halting due to COVID-19.
BABY BUNDLES
The baby bundles was an idea that came out of a larger program we’re considering which is, evacuating women from bush places to be able to have their babies safely. Prier to spending many millions on establishing an aircraft retrieval program we thought we would first of all supplement it by trying to attract more women who can move on foot to at least get closer to the health centres to have their baby in. This we call the baby bundle incentive program. Its a program that’s been tried in other parts of PNG with some success. Really there is many reasons why women don’t choose to have their baby in a hospital and stay at home instead, so, for a lot of women, the balance is just not in favour of coming to a hospital when you consider how far they have to walk to get here. But by providing some incentive we hope to change this. The baby bundle contains some things that are difficult for them to get normally in their life, like nappies, umbrella and baby dish, all of the things that go towards looking after a new baby, but are prohibitively expensive for women on low income. By providing those on some cases have been just enough the incentive to push women in favour of coming here to have their baby so we’ve seen a very sharp increase in the number of women coming here as result, which is really encouraging.
STUDENT ELECTIVE PROGRAMS ON HOLD DUE TO COVID19 – March 2020
All student elective programs for 2020 are cancelled at least until August due to COVID19. Papua New Guinea has currently closed its borders now to any arrivals by non-citizens. The international travel restrictions and the uncertainty as to when this pandemic will settle down are some factors that have contributed to this decision. In the mean time, for those students who have already arranged dates for their programs for this year, you are welcome to postpone or cancel as you wish by contacting us. However, for those students interested in student electives programs for 2021, you are welcome to contact us to discuss the possibilities. We will give further update as travel restriction advice is made available.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN, TRIBAL FIGHT OVER – June 2017
For the past 5 months Kompiam Station has been in the middle of a large tribal fight. It has rocked the community and left many buildings burned and people killed or homeless. However, the tribes involved have begun the process of compensation in order to end the hostilities between them and bring peace back to the station.
NEW RADIO STATION MANAGER – February 2017
Kairu Tumae has taken on the role of radio announcer and station manager.
NEW MATERNITY WARD OPENED – November 2016
This building includes a ward for mothers with newborn babies as well as a large delivery room.
MEL KROENERT JOINS THE BUILDING TEAM
Since 2015 Mel Kroenert has been coming up to Kompiam to lend his building expertise to the hospital redevelopment project. His skill and knowledge is highly valued and has helped the project to continue smoothly.
GOODBYE TO MR MICK – December 2015
After four years of much appreciated and very productive service, Mick O’Donnell has left Kompiam to return to Australia. He has made a significant contribution to the construction project and will be greatly missed by us all.
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING OPENED – September 2015
After years of planning and building, Kompiam International School finally opened their new double story school building. The building has four classrooms, a kindergarten, library, assembly room and office space. Needless to say there were some very excited students, teachers and parents.
HANDOVER TAKEOVER FOR DNS – August 2015
From Left to Right: HEO Tania Yamo, outgoing DNS Keturah Bryson, new DNS Ruth Injo, Dante Lines
It was a morning of heartbreaks and teardrops as Director of Nursing Services (DNS) for Kompiam District Hospital (KDH) Keturah Bryson say goodbye to both staff and community members.
Keturah who arrived in May last year (2014) was not a new comer to Kompiam. She had spent most of her childhood days here when her father was serving as a Baptist Missionary to the Sau people. She will return to Australia to pursue her career in Nursing with a new scope of perspective and approach.
Ruth Injo, who has arrived from Australia after completing her Degree program in Public Health Administration will take on the reins as the new Director of Nursing Services. Ms Injo who is from Kompiam was in charge for VHV Programs here in KDH before going down south to spend 3 years undergoing intensive studies. She will be leading the Nursing Department from where Keturah had left.
NEW HEO FOR KDH- July 2015
Our burden to have a clinical Health Extension Officer has finally been alleviated by the recruitment of Tania Yamo. Tania got her Bachelor’s Degree in RURAL HEALTH SCIENCE at Divine Word University. She completed her two years residency in 2013 and 2014 with us right here in Kompiam District Hospital. She had arrived in Kompiam with her baby (pictured above) early this month and has commenced her duties on the 13th.
Tania hails from Yulip village in the Kompiam District and is a faithful Christian.
LONG SERVICE LEAVE AFTER 15 YEARS – June 2015
Dr David Mills and his family ready to drive out of Kompiam for their six months Long Service Leave.
Sunday the 21st of June marked the start of six months Long Service Leave for Medical Superintendent and “father” of Kompiam District Hospital, Dr David Mills.
In his final encouragement to fellow staff and management members, he expressed in fluent Pidgin, “I’ve been here for 15 years and I have observed many changes in Kompiam. In the past, Kompiam Hospital was very unstable…but now it has become like glue. Today you can see people coming here from everywhere. You have all worked together to bring about this change…Do not be discouraged, we will still be back.” (Translated)
Dr Mills and his family will spend a month in Australia and then return back to PNG to spend the rest of their break at Ukarumpa, Eastern Highlands Province. He will occasionally visit Kompiam Hospital during his stay in Goroka.
KIS graduates First Phonics Students – June 2015
Phonics Graduation at Kompiam International School. Back Row Left to Right: Mrs Saphy Zanang (Supervisor), Mrs Jenny Jacky (Supervisor), Mrs Karina Mills (Principal), Ashley Mills (Part-time Supervisor), Natasha Mills (Part-Time Supervisor). Front Row Left to Right: Graduands Adriana Marpena, Chelsea Mills and McGween Injo displaying their Phonics Certificates.
Kompiam International School (KIS) has achieved a huge milestone on Friday the 19th of June when it saw three of its first Phonics students graduated with a Certificate.
The Phonics Program takes students through word lists that teach them how to sound out words and to apply the rules of English in spelling and reading. The Training had been conducted since 2012 for students Adriana Marpena, Chelsea Mills and McGween Injo.
The Principal of the School, Mrs Mills expressed satisfaction at the girls’ accomplishments, commenting proudly that, “They’ve actually done really well.” She also stated that many adults have approached her and requested some of the Phonics materials as they have seen “tangible results” of the Program.
Presented also at the graduation was Kompiam Town Counsellor and Education Field Officer for Baptist Union Mr James Timil.
Mr Timil who also has his daughter enrolled at Kompiam International School said, “So many parents came to enrol their kids here (Kompiam International School) but there was limited space.” He furthermore remarked that the community is aware that big things are going on at Kompiam International School.
New Maternity Ward and Classroom sets to Open Soon – May 2015
Work is taking an even faster pace as carpenters puts in extra efforts to complete the new maternity Ward and the new double classroom for the Kompiam International School. Hopes are high for the official opening to commence mid this year. Keep connected to Kompiam Hospital for progress.
Picture showing new Maternity Ward taking shape at Kompiam District Hospital.
The new classroom building for Kompiam International School entering its final stages of construction.
US Team Install New Solar System- May 2015
New set of solar panels catching sunlight to power up KDH operations.
Solar system installed by the team from United States.
As long as the sun is in the sky, the normal day to day operation of Kompiam Hospital will continue. This is made possible by four volunteers from the United States who arrived late last month to set up a 30 kilowatt solar system. The solar system will help reduce expenditure as well as increase work output by providing enough energy to run the entire hospital operations.
Medical Faculty Dean and DFAT Representative visits Kompiam Hospital – April 2015
Learning from the Master. Staff members at KDH watched closely as Senior Pediatrician assess a patient.
The Dean of Post Graduate studies, at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) and Senior Pediatrician visited Kompiam District Hospital on the 20th – 22nd of April to assess the medical student training being conducted. Accompanying him was Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) representative who came to assess the programs offered here. DFAT heavily sponsor the operation of the SMHS and have a particular interest in the need to improve rural health services in PNG. The feedback given was highly positive and we look forward to continue to work with them since our strategic vision is to further facilitate the improvement of rural health practice in PNG.
Sunrise Brought Sunshine – April 2015
Three teachers from the Sunrise International School made a three day visit to Kompiam International School to see how two of their ex-students and teacher are getting along in the new school. It gave them an additional opportunity to observe the way the PACE curriculum is taught and administered to the students in an international school located in one of the rural areas of Papua New Guinea. During their stay, they participated in monitoring roles, teaching and even attempted bird watching. It was an exciting, satisfying and thoroughly different experience for them.
Students on Rural Block – April 2015
In Rural Medicine practice, its more than Ward Rounds and Surgeries. Here the Medical Superintendent of Kompiam District Hospital shows medical students how to be proactive yet creative in a situation where resources are limited.
Driven by the desire to serve. Medical students escorted by Dr Mills to one of Kompiam’s rural Health Centres.
Six M.B.B.S. students from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) Medical Faculty arrived on Saturday 18th April to begin their rural block here in Kompiam District Hospital. Apart from foot-patrols to outlying Aid Posts and Health Centers, they also participated in additional skills training such as general electrical wiring, plumbing and carpentry work around the Kompiam Hospital area. They felt very privileged to be able to get a chance to participate in such hands on activities such as doing X-Ray for patients which is not something they would normally get a chance to perform. Worth mentioning is the courage of their team leader, Wemin, who lost his small sister during the week of their rural block. He managed to put a smile on his face and get along with the group to complete their 4 weeks training successfully.
New Pathology technician – April 2015
Freda Sele, a new graduate from Medical Faculty in Port Moresby, has arrived to fill in the position of Officer in Charge for the Pathology Department. She was accompanied by her husband Beatus Wai, who is a graduate from Pacific Adventist University. He will be working part time as clerical assistant to the hospital administration, and part time as a monitor at the Kompiam International School.
Goodbye to the Smith Family – January 2015
After nearly a year of valuable service at Kompiam, we sadly say goodbye to Phil, Elizabeth, Alice, Betsy, and Phillipa. They will be doing a few months of work in Australia before returning to the U.K. later in the year to spend some time with family there and in the Shetlands. They will be missed and we wish them well.
Hospital Update August 2014
New Staff
In the last few months we have had 2 new families arrive. Dr Phillip and Elizabeth Smith were most recently based in Namatanai Hospital in New Ireland Province working with Australian Doctors International. They are Cairns based but originally from England and the Shetland Islands in Scotland. They have 3 young girls, Betsy, Alice and Phillipa.
Keturah Bryson has joined us as our Director of Nursing Services. She was most recently working in Community Health in South Australia and also has a history in PNG, spending time here as a child while her parents were missionaries in Kompiam. Her four children have also joined her, Matilda, Malachi, Dante and Phoenix.
We have also been excited to have our first two intakes of 5th year medical students from UPNG in Port Moresby. This has been a wonderful opportunity for these students to be exposed to rural medicine, with the hope that this is a career that some of them may pursue in the future as there is a great need for rural doctors in PNG. The students have stayed in Kompiam for approx 8 weeks, with 5 in the first group and 6 in the second. They have split their time between working in the hospital in Kompiam, and doing extended patrols out to the health centers in Alagula and Lapalama. It’s certainly taken some of them out of their comfort zones, but they seemed to have all enjoyed the experience and have plenty of stories to tell.
Building Update:
Between the provincial and national government we have received enough funding to continue on with the hospital redevelopment and other building projects, which has been a wonderful answer to prayer. With 3 new carpenter trainees on board work is progressing on many fronts:
– The new maternity building is progressing well with the steel frame all up and work starting on the roofing. All the materials required for fit-out are now onsite with a container coming up from Australia earlier this year. The building is expected to be completed early next year. Our builder Mick is still cracking the whip and keep the boys on schedule on this project while he also finishes off the new kitchen.
– The old workshop was torn down to make way for the maternity building and we are starting to put together a new workshop using four 20′ shipping containers. This will also double some extra accommodation on the top level.
– We have almost completed a new house that will be used by the Village Health Volunteers as a maternity waiting house. This will accommodate high-risk pregnant women who can come early to the hospital rather than walking in when it’s too late.
– We have completed several projects already this year at some of our health centers with teams of builder and helpers going out for 1-2 weeks. Work has included a new house at Marambe, significant maintenance and upgrade to facilities at Alagula, Lapalama and Aiyokos, and water storage at Pyralum. In the coming months we have a significant project planned at Yengisa Health Center and some minor work at Mangao and Irepeno.
– Solar Vaccine fridges/freezers have now been fitted at the majority of our health centers and aid posts which had greatly increased the effectiveness of immunizations in remote areas of the province.
– We have just approved a project to install a 30KW solar power supply which will provide 24 hour / 240V power to the hospital. The system has been designed by a power expert who visited from the US, and purchasing of components has commenced in Germany and the US. It is planned to have this system up and running by April next year.
Kompiam International School:
With the hospital redevelopment ongoing, the school is going to have to move on soon to make way for the new buildings. Land has now been cleared within the compound and a double-story purpose-built school building has been purchased from Atlas Steel in Lae. Construction of the new school facilities is schedule to commence later this year. The school is a critical part of the hospital providing a valuable education option for the children of staff and also some children from the local community. It has been an important tool in attracting new staff and retaining them here in this remote location.
Hospital Update August 2013
Rural Doctors Come to Kompiam
As part of the training for their Masters in Rural Medicine, six rural doctors came to Kompiam in July for a 2 week intensive training course in Management and Leadership. By all accounts it was a great success and a significant benefit to these future leaders of rural medicine in PNG.
New Pediatric Ward Opens
On the 14th of August a ceremony was held to open the new Pediatric Ward of the hospital after almost 2 years of construction. Dignitaries from the Provincial Government as well as representatives of SDP, CMC, the Australia High Commission, AusAid, MAF and others were present. Media also attended the ceremony with coverage in the Newspapers, radio and TV. It was an exciting day for the hospital as well as the Kompiam community in general.
Hospital Update April 2013
New Doctor starts
Dr Eileen Totome has started with the hospital in March and will be based here in Kompiam as part of the MMED (Rural) training program, which will see her here with us for much of the next 6 years. It’s exciting to have her on board and adds a significant capability to the medical staff.
Dr Eileen Totome
Other New Arrivals
Also in March we had two families arrive in a volunteer basis. Garry and Barbara Duke are a retired couple from Victoria that have been in Kompiam previously and will likely be with us through 2013. Garry is helping out with maintenance and construction around the hospital and Barb is teaching the Kindergarten kids.
Russell and Wendy Conwell and their three girls Nancy, Heather and Bonnie were in Kompiam for 5 months in 2010 and have come back for another 2 years at this stage. Russell has taken on a role in administration and projects and Wendy is teaching the highschool kids (5 girls). It’s nice to have a few more kids of a similar age around and the girls are even starting a youth group.
Hospital Redevelopment
Construction continues to go well with the Pediatric ward almost complete and work ongoing on 3 new houses. Our construction trainees have entered their second year and doing a great job.
New Staff Housing
New Pediatric ward
Construction Trainees
Kompiam International School
With the arrival back of the Mill’s family and our volunteers, school got underway in early March with approximately 25 students registered this year. We also received a small grant from the Provincial Government towards the expansion of the school and clearing is underway for the site of the new school building. Fundraising opportunities are now being investigated to allow us to commence construction of the new building in 2014. If you can help in anyway we’d love to hear from you (or refer to our donations page).
Presentation Time
Lower and Upper Primary
Mangao Aid Post Commences Operations
Mangao, one of our most isolated Aid Posts, commenced operations in March with Terence Baiang a Community Health Worker now stationed there full time. Refer to the Mangao Aid Post for further information.
Terence at the New Aid Post
Mangao airstrip – 420m joyride!
New Hospital Vehicles
Anyone who has traveled the Kompiam road will understand why our vehicles undergo a lot of wear and tear. Last year our repair and maintenance bill on our vehicles was one of the significant over-runs in our budget, and as such we felt it was time to sell the old vehicles and buys some new ones. We have subsequently replaced one of our open-back’s and also our Dyna truck. In addition the Provincial Government also donated a further open-back that will be very useful in supporting our general operations as well as the increased level of project work currently ongoing.
Open-back Donated by Enga Provincial Government
New Open-back
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Hospital receives some long awaited funding.
May 2012
This week saw the long awaited arrival of K2 million (around A$1 million) in funding for hospital redevelopment work. Although another K3 in promises fell over, and we will still need at least another K4m to finish the project at Kompiam, we are still rejoicing to see this money arrive, that will enable us to continue construction apace for probably the next 24-36 months.
2012 elections heat up.
May 2012
Election fever is here again. With polls commencing later in June we are gearing up for the 5 yearly event that in times past has been fairly eventful in the highlands. Engans (and highlanders in general) take their politics very seriously, although hospital tries very hard to keep itself squarely in the middle ground. We will be stocking up on fuel and supplies though in the coming weeks, and keeping our heads down as best as possible until things calm down again in a few months time.
Ruth Injo off to Australia.
May 2012-05-31
Ruth Injo has won herself a scholarship to study public health in Canberra for three years. As many of you know, Ruth has been heading up the Village Health Volunteer program for some years and before that was OIC at Marambe HC. We wish her and the girls well as they start a new life overseas, and look forward to their return.
2 Doctors to join Kompiam Hospital in 2013.
November 2012
In the last two weeks we have confirmation that Drs Tina Yarong-Kote and Dr Eileen Totome will be joining staff from February next year. Both have expressed a desire to join the MMED (Rural) training program which would see them based out of Kompiam for the next 6 years while being intermittently released for training purposes. So this is really welcome news for us all here and will greatly expand our capacity for rural outreach over the coming years.
Lapalama student house
Lapalama Student House nearly finished.
November 2012
With help from a work party organized by Dr Jackie Boyd, we were able to nearly complete work on the inside of the Lapalama mission house.
This house is slated to become the base for student activities in the area over the next few years. In particular, 2013 will see the start of rotations of 5th undergraduate medical students from the University of PNG, doing their 9 week rural blocks in public health. This house has been refurbished specifically with this development in mind and once fully operational will see students based in this remote area and patrolling out to even more remote locations such as Pyarulam.
Kompiam International School finishes it first staff house. November 2012
This week saw the completion of this house on the site allocated for the new school. Mrs Jenny Jacky, our volunteer teacher is taking occupancy of this really nice little house. An exciting first step in this new venture for KIS.
Paediatric ward under construction
Paediatric ward close to lock up stage.
November 2012
The new paediatric ward is really taking shape now and will lock up probably at the end of next week. Although we predict there is still another 6 months of work until it is complete, there has been much rejoicing at the progress of this important project. There really has been nothing like it in Kompiam before, and the numbers of people who gather just to watch progress every day has been amazing to observe. We are just thanking God and looking forward expectantly to the next year. Continue to pray for Mick O’Donnell and our team of trainee workers, who thus far have been kept free from any injuries in the process. Election updateNovember 2012
Elections have come but not yet gone for us in Kompiam. Relatively speaking we have made it through fairly unscathed thus far. The road was cut off to everyone except hospital traffic. The fact that we have been able to continue to go and come these last few months when everyone else was locked down has been a huge answer to prayer and testament to the respect the people have for the hospital. Things have not been as smooth for the community, with several people severely injured in election related fighting, cars burned and one candidate kidnapped. The end result was the incumbent, Mr John Pundari being declared the winner. This result is somehwat predictably being challenged in court now ( results in nearly two thirds of seats across the country are being challenged) Such court proceedings can take months or even years so although things have returned part way to normal, the spectre of a possible bi-election will loom large for some time yet.
