Medical Ships - Australia

news updateAugust 2012 edition

G’day from KenLooking back, it doesn’t seem like long ago our ship was sailing away from the Townsville Port. It’s halfway through our 2012 Outreaches in PNG and along with our community development programs we have seen over 30,000 health services and training delivered. The Port Moresby outreach was the first of its kind and very busy yet uplifting. We had over 103 volunteers representing 14 different countries! It gave us a chance to share what life on the Ship in PNG entails. I had the great opportunity to connect with friends and patrons from around the globe. Now, we look forward to moving into our second year of the Ship in the Western Province. I want to thank you for taking this journey with us. I look forward to updating everyone on the great things to come during the second half of outreaches.

www.ywamships.org.au

YWAM Medical Ships Australia (YWAM MSA) has hosted its first outreach in Port Moresby from 23-27 July. The 38 metre long vessel, the Pacific Link, was open to tours for the public on Monday, 23 July, at Steamships Wharf.

This week was an eye-opening picture of what it looks like to live and volunteer aboard a medical ship; showcasing a small picture of the work YWAM is doing in rural and remote areas of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Gulf and Western Provinces. Pre-selected dental patients have had the opportunity to receive treatment on board the Ship while primary health care clinics operated in pre-determined shore-based regions.

The Ship also served as a catalyst to inspire and strengthen cooperative and collaborative relationships between the Ship’s home berth of Townsville and Port Moresby. The two communities have been sister

cities since 1983, when then Mayor Mike Reynolds, suggested that mutual cultural and economic relationships could emerge from formalising the sister city relationship.

Mr Reynolds, who is now the Australian patron for YWAM MSA, said the week would include some very strategic meetings between key stakeholders from Townsville and PNG. “Townsville Chamber of Commerce are sending a delegation during this week and we anticipate that the synergies created during this week will continue to build strong bridges of person to person relationships across our communities.”

Sir Rabbie Namaliu, former Prime Minister of PNG, and the PNG patron for YWAM MSA, attended and supported several events during the week.

The Hon. Mike Reynolds, the Right Hon. Sir Rabbie Namailu, Federal Member Ewen Jones, and YWAM MSA Director, Ken Mulligan, meet in Port Moresby for Outreach 4.

YWAM Medical Ships Port Moresby Outreach

story continued on back...

Australian Idol Contestant Joins for Outreach 4

In continuing with community development, so far this year we’ve been able to deliver 32,391 health & training services

Primary Health Care Patients - 2,894Immunisations Given - 1,140Dentistry Procedures - 2,255Optometry Clinic Patients - 1,711Group Education Attendees - 8,348Individual Education Attendees - 1,760Village Workers Trained - 90Preventative Health Resources - 14,158Ophthalmology Patients - 35

Former Australian Idol contestant and Townsville resident, Kim Cooper, literally jumped on board with YWAM Medical Ships (MSA). The singer joined YWAM MSA at the fundraiser breakfast last year and earlier this year, as part of the entertainment. In building on the relationship, she travelled to Papua New Guinea to be part of Outreach 4 in Port Moresby. It was a week of firsts for the singer. Not only has she experienced life on the Medical Ship with 50 other people, she helped in the clinics and sang at events. Kim took time to blog about her experience each day for the Townsville Bulletin. “I am so excited to see first hand the amazing work that YWAM Medical Ships Australia (MSA) are providing to the remote villages of PNG,” Kim said.

To read more about her experience, visit our news section at www.ywamships.org.au.

Medical Coordinator, Hannah Peart, being interviewed by EMTV for a piece they are doing on the work of YWAM Medical Ships.

Kim Cooper, Townsville resident and former Australian Idol contestant, talks with a patient while working with the Primary Health Care Clinic in Port Moresby.

Thanking our Partners:

For more information:Address: PO Box 1959 Townsville QLD 4810 Australia

Phone: +61 7 4771 2123 Fax: +61 7 4772 4414Email: info@ywamships.org Web: www.ywamships.org.au

Other guests included High Commissioner for PNG, His Excellency Ian Kemish; Federal Member for Herbert, Ewen Jones; Federal Member for Ryan, Jane Prentice; Dr Daryl Holmes, Managing Director of 1300 SMILES (Townsville-based dental group which has been a key supporter for YWAM’s dental program in PNG); and Kim Cooper, former Australian Idol contestant who lended her talent and support to strengthening YWAM’s work.

YWAM MSA cares about strengthening linkages between Australia and PNG. Since 2010, YWAM MSA has delivered 74,327 training and health services to develop communities in rural PNG.

Plans are already underway to return to the Western Province from August-September. First, in July, YWAM MSA was able to share their vision for a future continued growing relationship between the two nations and new ways to educate, equip, and care for as many individuals as possible.

Port Moresby Outreach Story Continued...