YWAM sets sight on Islands Region

YWAM patron Sir Rabbie Namaliu and MD Ken Mulligan.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, October 23, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

PROVIDING close to half a million medical services to rural populations around the Southern Region of the country, and now reaching out to Momase- Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is now setting its sights on the New Guinea Islands Region to provide its much needed medical assistance.

When asked about when the organization would reach islands populous, YWAM country patron Sir Rabbie Namaliu and Managing Director Ken Mulligan, both said eventually the medical outreach would reach the region, with a pilot voyage set for West New Britian with the MV Pacific Link vessel currently in the Momase Region.

“So it is more or less a pilot vessel again and so we are doing preparations at this time,” YWAM MD Mulligan said.

With its biggest vessel MV YWAM PNG serving the whole of Southern Region including its extending islands in all five provinces- a third vessel will be possible for the non-for-profit medical service provider.

“We also another vessel joining us- it’s coming up from Europe called Ruach, and will work on more isolated islands.”

“It’s a beautiful yacht and we will tell you more about that when it comes, it enables us to go into areas where we don’t need a larger ship.”

“Eventually we would like to see three good size ships around the coast, so this is a forerunner- giving an idea of what we can actually do together- the next 10 years watch this space.”

Sir Rabbie in emphasizing the importance of support, currently given by provinces and districts in the regions YWAM currently serves, called on all Members of Parliament support the outstanding work that NGO does.

“I pleased with the support of provincial governments from Western all the way down to Oro- in fact the Governor (Gary Juffa) did a presentation recently with the contribution going towards the operation of the ship.”

“Of course we would obviously like those representing districts, provinces; we would like to work closely with them- we are working closely with their health officials at the district level, also support the program,” Sir Rabbie said.

“It is very much in their interest as well, without the services we are providing- a lot of these places wouldn’t have access to basic health and medical services.”