Madang PHA farewells Professor Bolnga
The Madang Provincial Health Authority has farewelled its Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist, Professor John Bolnga before last Friday.
Professor Bolnga was the consultant at the Madang Provincial Specialists Hospital for 19 years.
Professor Bolnga came to Madang to do his residency straight after completing his studies at the School of Medicine in 2007.
He later went on to do his Doctor of Philosophy studies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, graduating in 2021 and returned to Madang where he continued working until he tendered his resignation in April 2026.
He takes his leave from Madang to return home to Jiwaka Province to pursue other interests.
Word fell short of describing Professor Bolnga’s professionalism and commitment to his work.
Chief Executive Officer of Madang PHA, Dr Martin Daimen said, “he is one of a kind that we will miss. He is a very important senior medical specialist. His leaving leaves a big gap in our system.
“Though many doctors can become specialists in every area but there are certain people who are so very important, so unique and he is one of those very unique women doctors in the country.”
Dr Daimen added that Professor Bolnga has contributed a lot to Madang, not only in clinical duties but in mentoring, teaching and training young doctors. He has also contributed to medical research in the country.
“Some of his research works are so unique, including one that is now going to change some treatment guidelines and protocols, especially for women health in this country as well as internationally. That’s only one of his many achievements,” Dr Daimen said.
Bolnga was Madang’s team leader in research and his departure will no doubt create a gap in this space.
He is a strong advocator of women’s health and has championed the first successful cancer screening procedure in Madang; one of his legacies which he will leave behind. This service has been rolled out to Bogia District and will be replicated in the other districts soon.
Although a replacement has been found to carry on from where he left, Dr Daimen said, “The character, the care, experience and expertise will be missed especially by our patients, mostly women and mothers in Madang as well as those from other provinces who seek our services here.”
Colleague doctor and Director of Curative Health Services, Dr. Jiuth Gawi; described Professor Bolnga, a beacon of hope and a star for people that he has crossed paths with, especially the women and mothers of Madang Province.
He also extended sincere appreciation to Professor Bolnga’s parents and his tribe for their part in his upbringing, plus his wife and children for sharing their father with Madang.
“You came to Madang at a time when it was ridden with child and maternal deaths, when we needed someone, and the hospital was crying for someone to lead us out. So, thank you for listening to our cries and you stood by us all these years.
“You built O & G brick by brick and you trained a lot of people, including me, Divine Word University and Lutheran School of Nursing students. A lot of people drew support from you, including us, the younger doctors; and the womenfolk of Madang.
“Apart from your clinical life, you also taught us how to do other things; like how to look at starting a business and how to solve community problems. You were a silent mentor to a lot of us. You have a lot of legacies that you will leave behind. It was not an easy journey, but you did not leave us.”
Neurosurgeon and Senior Specialist Medical Officer, Dr Sammy Thomas also shared a few highlights of Professor Bolnga’s outstanding performance during his years in Madang. They include the extraction of a mummified baby from a mother. The mother has been carrying the mummified baby for two years.
Another experience Dr Thomas witnessed Professor Bolnga did was giving instructions via a mobile phone to a health worker in Middle Ramu who was delivering a breech birth.
Dr Thomas said Professor Bolnga has a lot of stories.
“Another story about his life was, he was holding a mobile phone and talking to a CHW in Middle Ramu somewhere trying to deliver a baby from a 13- year- old girl through the breech delivery. He held onto the phone giving instructions until the CHW said, “boss em deliver ya, em orait nau.”
“That’s John Bolnga. I could go on and on about the type of person he is, but John and I are very close. I know his family, his parents, his brothers and sisters.”
Professor Bolgna leaves Madang with a lot of achievements, both professionally and personally.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the Madang PHA Board, Dr Clement Manineng said, Professor Bolnga was an invaluable asset to Madang PHA.
“Your work cannot be measured by the amount of money we pay you. You are worth a million times more.
“Thank you so much for your unwavering commitment and service for the past 19 or 20 years to the Modilon Hospital, to our Madang PHA, to Divine Word University and to Madang Province.
“You were a shining star and a beacon of hope to many of us here, to our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our babies, and to the babies of our babies; some of whom are now grown men and women. You were the first face they saw, and the first hand that held them when they first came into this world.
“Professor Bolnga, we are going to really miss you but depart you must and change must happen for growth and for progress. But change is good,” he said.