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Welcome to this summer edition of Binbilla ... - Global Interaction

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UBILEE & FUTURE HEALTH NEEDSROBERT & ELISE WIGHTFor me, personally, the challenge concerning the HealthProgram was paramount. At Makki I met with a deputation<strong>of</strong> nine manteris (medical workers) and assistants,including Ndaibet, Wene, Amos, and others with whomI had worked and helped train. They were accompaniedby new trainees who, as in earlier days, were selectedand supported by the church. I was <strong>to</strong>ld that others werelocated in Wamena, the high plateau and many othervillages. In spite <strong>of</strong> the recent massacre, there are almosttwenty medical workers at different levels <strong>of</strong> training andexperience.They discussed their payments, supplies from thegovernment, preparing monthly reports, weighing babies,clinics for children under 5, immunization programstargeting infants at 2, 4 and 6 months with DPT Polio andHepatitis B, using disposable syringes, ante-natal careand promoting breast feeding for two years. Vitamin Acapsules are given <strong>to</strong> children up <strong>to</strong> age five years.since its inception.) The program would need <strong>to</strong> involvekey personnel from throughout Papua. It should also beculturally appropriate, sustainable and open particularly forthe indigenous Papuan community, but not entirely.The response so far has been positive, and 2008could be a target date, given the planning andnegotiating <strong>to</strong> be done.Please pray for <strong>this</strong> vision <strong>to</strong> be realised in a way thatassists our brothers and sisters in Papua and bringsglory <strong>to</strong> the One who loved us <strong>to</strong> death.However, the medical problems are immense. Withno permanent doc<strong>to</strong>r in Wamena and no doc<strong>to</strong>r in theNorth Baliem, emergency care is almost non existent. Totransfer someone <strong>to</strong> Jakarta is almost impossible and <strong>to</strong>oexpensive and ambulance travel is a hazard. There is alack <strong>of</strong> regular support for upgrading and refreshing skills.I have a list <strong>of</strong> requests which should satisfy thegenerosity <strong>of</strong> interested donors. But the one challengefor me was <strong>to</strong> pursue the possibility <strong>of</strong> setting up abranch <strong>of</strong> the International School <strong>of</strong> Health, similar <strong>to</strong>the one in Adelaide run by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Tony Radford atFlinders University. (I have been engaged in the program05

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