Heli Niugini saves two mothers in emergency Madang medivac
A Madang-based helicopter company, Heli Niugini, carried out two life-saving medical evacuations yesterday afternoon, airlifting two women from remote parts of Middle Ramu District to Madang Provincial Hospital.
The evacuations were from Annaberg in Arabaka Local Level Government and Temandapuar village in Josephstaal, near the border of Bogia and Middle Ramu districts.
The emergency flights were coordinated by the Madang Rapid Response Network Plus [MRRN+] and the Madang Provincial Health Authority, with Heli Niugini crews quickly transporting the patients to the hospital.
Both women were suffering from serious labour-related complications and were admitted straight into the emergency ward on arrival. Hospital staff stabilised their conditions and placed them under specialist care.
One of the patients, 25-year-old Consita Sakilak from Temandapuar village, was experiencing post-natal complications. Doctors confirmed she is suffering from anaemia and tuberculosis.
Dr Michael Kuri, Acting Medical Services Manager at Madang Provincial Hospital, said she had been losing weight and growing weaker since giving birth in September last year.
The second woman, also suffering post-delivery complications, was admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward for further treatment.
Both families described the emergency evacuations as “God-sent miracles.”
Consita’s father, Francis Mangaura, said the family had almost lost hope.
“We thought no one cared, but help finally arrived. I thank MRRN+ for being the bridge between us and the hospital,” he said.
Health workers at the local facility were unable to diagnose her condition, and she remained bedridden in the village until word reached MRRN+ through community members over the weekend.
MRRN+ Director John Noah Ariku and Network Administrator Stanley Phillipae immediately relayed the emergency to Madang PHA CEO Dr Martin Daimen, who arranged the medivacs with Heli Niugini.
Call for long-term emergency support
Yesterday’s evacuations bring the total number of emergency extractions from remote parts of Madang Province to three in less than a month.
Mr Ariku has now called on Madang’s Members of Parliament to put politics aside and work together to fund a sustainable emergency response and medical evacuation system.
“When it comes to life and death, there is no time for politics. What’s needed is unity and leadership,” he said.
He said people in hard-to-reach areas like Middle Ramu continue to suffer because of poor health facilities, bad roads, delayed referrals and long response times.
“For many families, a medical emergency is a race against time and distance. Too often, help arrives too late,” Mr Ariku added.
Mr Ariku thanked all those involved in the evacuations, including Madang PHA, Heli Niugini flight crews, provincial police, Middle Ramu District officials and hospital emergency staff.
Those people include Madang PHA CEO, Dr Martin Daimen, the flight crew at Heli Niugini Limited, especially Chief Pilot, Captain Stephen Pascoe, Captain Che Freese, and loadmaster, Danny Solomon, and Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Robert Baim
The Madang Rapid Response Network Plus is an online emergency reporting and coordination platform that connects communities with police, health, fire and disaster agencies, helping ensure faster and more reliable emergency responses across the province.