J u l y 2 0 1 0

St Margaret’s Newsletter

Report by Russ Thompson

Newslet ter produced by

Oro bay is located some 50 km from

Popondetta which is the only town in Oro

Province. The road between Popondetta and

Oro Bay is one of the best roads in PNG as it

is the conduit for the largest employer in the

province, West New Britain Oil Palm. Palm oil

is transported to Oro Bay as it is the only deep

water port in the province.

There is a 10 year plan to relocate the Capital

from Popondetta to Oro Bay. Mt Lamington

which towers above Popondetta is an active

volcano and in 1951 eruptions killed more than

3000 people in Popondetta. The relocation of

the capital adds further importance to the St

Margaret’s Anglican Hospital

St Margaret’s Hospital was dedicated in 1963 to

honor the Scottish Saint and to become the only

Anglican Hospital in PNG. Unfortunately, decay

set in over the years due to lack of funding, lack

of maintenance and loss of interest in PNG.

The hospital, now considered a Health Centre,

is currently unfi t for patients. It has no running

water, power for only 5 hours per day, no patient

access to toilets and the list goes on.

The catchment area served is 160,000 people.

Oro Province.

Popondetta in center.

Oro Bay 50 KM south on

Coast of Solomon Sea

The resurrection of St Margaret’s HospitalOro Bay, Papua New Guinea

Solomon Sea

Oro Bay

Good progress is being made in all areas

of the 24 bed main building as we convert a

dilapidated health centre into a Level 5 Rural

Hospital. Completion of construction is

planned for November 2010. Skylights have

been used to increase the natural lighting

in hallways to brighten the areas. The main

entrance has been moved to allow a straight

view from the last ward to the main entrance for

security. Every service area is being modified

to meet current PNG National Department of

Health standards.

Lighting will include both solar and 240 volt in

preparation of having 24 hour generator power.

Four service areas are to be air-conditioned:

the pharmacy, the minor operating theater, labor

and delivery and the laboratory.

Main hospital building and patient wardsJuly 2010

Wards include: Labor and delivery, New Born

nursery, Childrens, Womens, Mens and an

isolation ward. Each ward has a toilet, shower

and hand basin plus a healthcare workers’ hand

basin. Also included are a general triage room,

recovery and A&E, X-ray, and three patient

exam rooms, two of which have a full shower,

flush toilet and hand basin.

Integrated into the general exam room is an

HIV/AIDS and STI clinic which assures patient

anonymity and safety at all times.

Drinking water and shower water is supplied

from seven 9000 litre rainwater tanks. Flushing

of toilets has an alternative flushing system

utilising dam water raised by a ram pump to

the compound holding system for dry weather

and will utilise rain water when the supply is

plentiful.

The only Anglican Hospital in the South Pacific

Full toilets and new septic system added to each ward and exam rooms.

Water for compound. Ram Pump Installation and holding tank

New Women’s ward

Laboratory preparations

Preparing 1 of 2 shadehaus, open rooms for patient visiting with family out of the wards

Inspection of nursing offices including community training room, offices, staff conference room, toilets, showers and

tea room.

Two homes are near completion. These will be

a substantial upgrade to existing houses. A third

house has been ordered.

Each house will have running water, a shower,

flush toilet and kitchen, three bedrooms, a

central lounge room, clothes washing facilities

and two staircases. A space for a garden is

behind each home. Toilets will be required to be

chemical as the soil percolation is solid clay at 2

meters.

Attractive staff housing is essential to attract

trained staff to relocate to Oro Bay.

Many of the older staff huts are in need of

demolition and replacement as new housing

funding will permit.

Staff Housing

Front Porch with view of Oro BayKitchen and living area

Safety concernsThe following images demonstrate my concern of a landslide occuring. The hill in the distance

stands above the area which has been cleared for future housing. As previously reported, should

the area experience another Cyclone Guba the entire hill could slide into the houses and the

dormitory immediately beneath the houses. An expert review should be conducted prior to any

new houses being constructed at the bottom of this area.

Environmental concernsOver time there could be some waste contamination into the swamp below which feeds into the

ocean. This has likely occurred in the past with the old septic and pit toilet systems.

Septic distribution system

Banana and taro to be planted over the top. Swamp area drains into the ocean

Meeting with Archbishop Joe Kopapa

Having known Bishop Joe Kopapa for many years, it was good to brief him on St Margaret’s

Hospital to date as he is now the new Archbishop and Head of the Anglican Church of PNG.

We discussed:

• Governor’s reclassification letter situation (now resolved)

• Promise of Member for Ijivitari, David Arore’s, offer for some funds for equipment

• Need for Anglican Church PNG to support St Margaret’s Hospital

• Forthcoming AHS Board meeting

• Strategic Plan for St Margaret’s Hospital

• Need for independent Management Board for the hospital’s operation

• Need for funding and equipment donations to equip the hospital

• Only Anglican Hospital in the South Pacific

• Other topics

We continued in depth discussions of the plan for St Margaret’s to operate as a Satellite Campus

to Popondetta General Hospital (POP Gen). This support will include a resident physician, weekly

visiting specialists, sterilisation services, hazardous waste disposal, laundry services and ongoing

nursing skills training from Popondetta General. We agreed:

• Restart of Strategic Plan for St Margaret’s

• Examination of Management Structures of Kudjit Hospital, Mt Hagen and Brown

Memorial Hospital In Finchaven, Madang province as templates for St Margaret’s

• House for resident physician

• Equipping the hospital to basic Level 5 standards.

• Plans for worldwide appeals for funding and equipment donations

• Specialty equipment for surgeon, OB/Gyn and internal medicine visiting specialists

• Availability of water sterilization system loaned to Red Cross during Cyclone Guba

• Healthcare statistics for the area.

• Surgical expansion of Popondetta General

• Reduction of case load by 5000 outpatients/ year who are bypassing St Margaret’s

Oro Bay

Dr Gawin with Ulch Tapia (right) Anglican National Secretary of Health

Meeting with Dr Gunzee Gawin, CEO Popondetta General Hospital.

Special NeedsRegrettably, a major donor was forced to withdraw it’s offer to equip the hospital due to

a change in project funding protocols, reduction of budgets and the length of time it has

taken to get the St Margaret’s project off the ground.

A full list of equipment needs can be obtained from russt@tni-australia.com

• Pricing of equipment required for patient treatment if purchased new (considered

estimates)

• Diagnostic ultrasound system A $35,000

• Delivery Bed A $14,000

• Newborn bassinets X 4 A $6,000 @, 1,500 each

• Newborn heating lamps X 4 A $7200

• Photo therapy for new born A $6,000

• Minor operating table A $30,000

• Patient transport carts Gurneys X3 A $6000

• Anesthesia machine with up to 3 gases A $15,000

• Partial CO2 monitors A $5,500

• All X ray (Provided by HELPNG) A $125,000

• IV pumps with disposable A $5,000

• Surgical Suction A $4,000

• Ward aspiration suction A $4,000

• Metal crank hospital beds & mattresses X 10 A $7,000 @ $700 each

(Other ward beds will be wood made locally)

• Metal box for laundry transport Unknown

• Surgical needs include: Major procedure trays, AO sets, tubal ligation trays,

minor trays, D&C trays and more

Further we have great need of:

• Water purification system for patients, staff and village apx $ 15,000.00

• Fence security system apx $ 20,000.00.

Major Players in St Margaret’s Anglican Hospital Resurrection

Annabel DulhuntyABM PNG Program Coordinator

Russell ThompsonThompson Nightingale International

ABM Project Manager and Consultant for St Margaret’s Hospital

Jeremy SymePNG Project Manager

Asia Development Bank/ NDoH Enclaves Project

David GoleArchitect

Tropical Projects INC, PNG

Archbishop Joe KopapaAnglican Church of Papua New Guinea

Richard Rabiafi General Secretary

Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

Gill WilkinsonFinance Director

Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

Ulch TapiaAnglican National Secretary of Health

Project Manager for St Margaret’s for Anglican Health Services

Sr Mildred LaksenAnglican Provincial Health Secretary

(currently on LOA)

Popondetta General Hospital

Other Government Departments supporting St Margaret’s

Sem VegogoCEO of Port Moresby General Hospital

Former CEO of Popondetta General who conceived the idea of St Margaret’s Hospital

becoming a satellite of POP Gen

Dr Gunzee Gawin CEO Popondetta General HospitalNow charged with the execution of

creating a satellite operation

Rob AkersCapacity Building Service Center/ NDoH

Designer of new PNG Hospitals. Volunteered his personal time to guide the

requirements and design.

Others not pictured:

• Hon Suckling Tamanabe,

Governor Oro Province

• Owen Awaita, Administrator

Oro Province

• Copland Ihove, Oro Provincial

Health Secretary

Breaking news Oro Governor signs offic

ial

Reclassificatio

n lette

r. Offic

ial process has

begun for S

t Margaret’s

to become a

Level 5 Rural H

ospital.

Equipment donationRuss ThompsonHealth Equipment PNG (HELPNG)9 Hawkhurst CourtEltham Vic 3095

Ph: +61 3 9431 5676; Mobile: +61 409 566 501PNG: +675 712 99132

Email: russt@tni-australia.com

Monetary donationAnglican Board of Missions ABM

St Margaret’s Equipment FundLevel 6, 51 Druitt StreetSydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Ph: 1300 302663 or(Sydney 9264 1021) and ask to make a donation to St Margaret’s Hospital.

www.abmission.org

Make Contact:

Port Moresby

Aitape

AmanabMaprik

Bogia

Okapa

Marawaka

Tari

Ambunti

Kikori

Balimo

Tufi

Finschhafen

Kandrian

Hoskins

Pomio

Kokopo

Namatanai

MoreheadWeam

Kupiano

Angoram

TelefominTalasea

Gloucester

Ewase Milim

PangunaBuin

Kwikila

Lumi

Koroba

KabwumNadzab

Kokoda

Kiunga

Kavieng

Rabaul

Kimbe

Lae

Wewak

Madang

Wabag

Mendi

Mt. HagenGoroka

Kundiawa

Kerema

Vanimo

Daru

Arawa

Popondetta

Alotau

Esa'ala

Kulumadau

Lorengau

W E S T S E P I K

E A S T S E P I K

W E S T E R N

G U L F

C E N T R A L

M A D A N G

M A N U S

WESTERN HIGHLANDS

W E S T N E WB R I T A I N

E A S T N E WB R I T A I N

M I L N E B A Y

N E W I R E L A N D

B O U G A I N V I L L E

M O R O B E

ENGA

CHIMBUSOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

NATIONAL CAPITAL

EASTERNHIGHLANDS

IN

DO

NE

SI

A

S O L O M O N I S L A N D S

AUSTRALIA

Manus

NewIreland

NewBritain Bougainville

Choiseul

SantaYsabel

Woodlark

Pocklington Reef

D'Entrecasteaux Islands

Louisiade Archipelago

B i smarckArch ipe lago

Taskul

Karkar

Long

Kiwai

Umboi

Mussau

Tabar

Lihir

Buka

Guadalcanal

GoodenoughFergusson

Normanby

Misima

TagulaRossel

Tabar Is lands

Tabar Is lands

St. Matthias Group

WituIslands

TrobriandIslands

TangaIslands

FeniIslands

AdmiraltyIslands

PelelunIslands

HermitIslands

NewGeorgia Group

ChambriLakes

LakeMurray

Fly

Stri

ckla

nd

Sepik

Ramu

C o r a l S e a

B i s m a r c k S e a

P A C I F I C O C E A N

S o l o m o n S e a

Gulf of Papua

HuonGulf

Torres StraitGoschen Strait

PAPUANEW GUINEA

0

0

100 200 250 km

50 100 150 mi

50 150

The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptanceby the United Nations.

Map No. 4104 Rev. 1 UNITED NATIONSJanuary 2004

Department of Peacekeeping OperationsCartographic Section

National capitalProvincial capitalCity, townMajor airportReefInternational boundaryProvincial boundaryMain road

PAPUANEW

GUINEA

PAPUANEW

GUINEA