Lack of effective communication continues to hinder medivac efforts in remote villages

Heli Niugini provided medivac for two patients from the remote Bogia area to Modilon General Hospital after receiving distress calls *(NBC News: Anisha Isimel)*

The absence or lack of effective communication network has been identified as a major impediment to medivac efforts in extreme remote areas of Madang Province.

Leslie Wali Danari, a local from Bogia District expressed this after witnessing a man die last week from excessive loss of blood and a newborn baby who couldn't survive birth complications.

Danari said the man died after he was attacked by bush knives and had one of his hands chopped off following an argument over education matters at the local school in the Almami Local Level Government area.

"Efforts to save the injured man were not successful due to poor communication networks and deteriorating roads to our village," he said. "Communication in our area gets even more difficult under wet conditions, and the recent ongoing rains don't help at all. In serious life- threatening situations, we have no choice but to reach out to the government for help."

Danari, whose wife is headmistress of the local primary school, also spoke of how a pregnant woman battled birth complications for two consecutive days before help finally arrived.

He said the woman went into labour on Saturday, December 13, assisted by Village Birth Attendants [VBAs], unfortunately; lost her baby in a breech birth.

The patients removed from the helicopter at the Modilon General Hospital (NBC News: Anisha Isimel)

"She had a retained placenta, and we had to find means and ways to help her. She was finally evacuated to the Madang Provincial Hospital on the afternoon of Monday, December 15, with a retained placenta, thanks to the Madang PHA, Madang Rapid Response Network and Heli Niugini," he said.

The medivac by Heli Niugini was only possible after communication was established between Dabari and the Madang Rapid Response Network on Sunday, December 14.

He said all efforts to get in touch with health authorities at the Bogia District Hospital were unsuccessful due to poor communication networks.

Seeing the woman in excruciating pain, Danari and his wife refused to give up trying until they managed to reach the founder and director of the Madang Rapid Response Network, John Newtown Ariku around midnight Sunday, through WhatsApp.

Ariku immediately relayed the distress message to Jeremiah Johnmark, Executive Manager of the Madang Provincial Hospital, for a possible medivac on Monday.

Johnmark said; "Upon receiving the midnight call from Mr Ariku, I immediately contacted the CEO, Dr Martin Daimen, and advised him about the situation in Bogia. Early Monday morning, we discussed the evacuation and reached out to Heli Niugini, who successfully conducted the medivac after midday."

The woman assisted onto the Ambulance for medical care at Madang Provincial Hospital (NBC News: Anisha Isimel)

The mother, Teckla, underwent specialist medical care the same day, and her condition was stabilised.

Medical Manager and Emergency Physician at the Madang Provincial Hospital, Dr Michael Kuri, said Teckla, who is a mother of five children, was put on family planning.

Besides Teckla, a 63-year-old man who needed specialist eyecare was also put on the same medivac. He has since been referred to eye specialists for proper diagnosis.

Danari said it is crucial for all rural health facilities to have effective communication networks in place.

He said whilst mobile phones provide a vital role in this space nowadays, there are still some areas that have nil mobile coverage, and reaching out for help continues to be a problem.