Doing it tough: Papua New Guinea’s harsh reality of rural health service delivery

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This is how I protect myself in flight, on the right side behind the co-pilot seat you can see the plastic Covid barrier to separate patient compartment from flight deck, in addition I wear a fully sealed respirator mask. Photo: supplied

THE pilot of Manolos Aviation, Captain Jurgen Ruh encounters the harsh reality of basic health service delivery in a remote Menyamya in Morobe province. He has been at the forefront of providing timely medivac services and saving lives for many people living in rural areas in recent times especially in Morobe and Namatanai in New Ireland province.

“Today sister Jocelyn and myself flew another Covid-19 patient from an outstation to Lae…..this was a special flight as the affected patient was a health worker….health workers working in outstations need to be looked after if they find it tough”. Photo: supplied 

“And upon landing Menyama…..my jaw dropped…..a health worker in protective clothing delivers to us another health worker in their last available ambulance…..a wheelbarrow…..of course without lights and siren”. Photo: supplied 

“Patient in the wheelbarrow and drip on a stick” – Photo: supplied

“Healthy health worker pushing Covid-19 affected health worker in the wheelbarrow towards the helicopter”. Photo: supplied