A MEDICAL GODSEND FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHIMBU

PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

Feature

A MEDICAL GODSEND FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHIMBU

They’re a God- sent couple for the people of Chimbu

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Oct. 17) – Many hospitals throughout Papua New Guinea have received invaluable professional support from overseas. Because of these special and dedicated individuals, hundreds of thousands of lives have been saved over the years. More knowledge is passed on to young Papua New Guineans.

Kundiawa General Hospital in the capital of Chimbu Province has been fortunate in having Dr Ronald Sommers, an obstetrician and gynecologist over the last 10 years.

[PIR editor’s note: Chimbu Province is located in the highlands area of central Papua New Guinea.]

PNG is facing a drastic shortage in obstetric and gynecology specialists. The arrival of Dr Sommers 10 years ago was God sent.

Dr Sommers, now a retired 75- year-old Australian and wife Rae, a theatre nurse, have given more towards the healthcare of the Chimbu people than many other volunteer doctors to any province in the country. Not only had the couple come with their knowledge and other volunteer professionals but they have also brought with them a lot of expensive life-saving medical equipment.

Doctor Sommers and wife Rae have completed an amazing 400 operations on mothers in the province. And not that alone but a school was established within the hospital compound with the support of the Sommers for school age inpatients and children whose parents were admitted for longer periods. Children from kindergarten up to grade eight attend the school, which was built by a carpenter son of the couple. The Chimbu people have recognised the Sommers’ commitment by naming the Obstetric and Gynaecology (O&G) ward the Sommers Wing.

The doctor came into the country and into Chimbu with his cousin, Max David, a missionary volunteer who spent 40-odd-years, developing the province. While in Chimbu, he had the chance to visit the hospital and met legendary missionary surgeon Jan Jaworski at the operating theatre.

"When I met and talked with Fr Jaworski I saw the great need here for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The demand here is very high. Because of that reason, Rae and I have come into Kundiawa twice a year for the last 10 years."

And over those years, a total of 26 professional volunteers have accompanied the couple and served the people of chimbu.

"Being members of the Rotary club, we've been able to bring along some of our friends who are specialists in different fields."

Because of his commitment, the last four national health ministers in the country have met and invited him to come.

The father of eight children who was training specialist O&G doctors in Australia when he first came here, says Papua New Guinea needs a lot of specialists in different fields. The Sommers are in Kundiawa for their second one-month stint for the year with a new ultra sound scanning machine equipped with a colour Doppler to indicate blood flow, costing more than PGK100,000 [US$35,500], a complete set of gastro intestinal tracking machines and three other Australian volunteers, all specialists in their fields. This means heart patients in Chimbu will no longer be referred to Goroka Base or Mt Hagen General Hospital.

Kundiawa General Hospital board chairman Gerard Philip has been trying hard to raise funds for an ultra sound scanner and once again the Sommers had given more than expected to the people of Chimbu. Along with the couple came sonographer specialists Linda Ward, another volunteer who has 36 years of experience, working with ultra sound machines. Ms Ward has spent time training the local X-ray department on sonography. Alison Moores, a midwife trainer also accompanied the couple and has trained the local midwifery staff for the duration. Another addition to the group was a sewing machine technician who was handy to repair machines to keep inpatients busy.

It was during this visit that the Post-Courier discovered that a set of baby incubators had been sitting idle in the hospital for the last 10 years due to lack of local technical knowledge. It may have cost some young lives but the specialist volunteers set up two incubators, arranging temperature, light and other conditions required.

Hospital board chairman Gerard Philip said the support from Dr Sommers and his wife Rae could not be measured.

"They’re a God- sent couple for the people of Chimbu. We’re privileged and very fortunate to have them."

Acting director medical Services Dr Francis Wandi said the donation of the ultra sound machine would save a lot of problems. Because of its quality, it would attract specialist medical officers. When asked about his old age, Dr Sommers says, "I don't know when I will stop coming because every time I come here, I always say it's the last."

Go back to Pacific Islands Report: Graphics or Text Only.