PM’s wife makes surprise visit to children’s ward

Caption:   Linda Babao with 6 year old Arlene Yabom who has malaria.

Caption:   Mrs O’Neill sharing a few words with the mother of little Frida Kare who is just three months old who suffers from urinal problems.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 10, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

THE wife of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill made a surprise visit to the children at the Port Moresby General Hospital to give out gifts of goodies.

Linda Babao also visited children who have undergone Operation Open Heart at the hospital.

She distributed biscuits, fruits, fruit juice, and coloring books to each patient in the children’s ward, all given from her heart to the overjoyed patients.

Accompanying her on the visit was Ms Ruby Laufa, PNG’s South Pacific Queen, and Christine Aiwa the runner-up to Ruby.

“We are just fortunate to have enough to have enough food then we anticipated and we are able to come here to the children’s ward here to give some hope to the parents and the children,” said Mrs O’Neill.

“This is straight from our hearts- the Prime Minister and I have always done our own little things on the side that we don’t have publicized.”

She said how amazed she was with the reception given by the children to her visit, speaking of their ability to smile despite their situation.

“They have been really great- the children have been just astronomical considering what they are going through and still being able to put up those lovely smiles, and be engaging and even joke with me.”

“You can see some of the mothers here who do not have families here and are from other areas of the country, it is hard for them to talk to someone and relay their fears are asking some of the question now that they did not have the courage to ask previously.”

She added that being a mother, she understand what they could possibly be going through and being able to be there for their children.