Media release
02 July 2010
For immediate release
PNGDF and ADS conduct medical patrol in East Sepik
Medics from the Papua New Defence Force (PNGDF), assisted by Australian Defence Staff (ADS), conducted a medical patrol on the north coast of East Sepik Province early this month.
The medical patrol was the confirmatory phase of a Combat Medics course run at Goldie River Training Depot early last year by Australian Warrant Officer (WO) Mal Woods. The medical patrol practises 20 students - 17 male medics from 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2 RPIR) based in Moem Barracks, as well as 3 female medics from Taurama Barracks Medical Centre - in diagnostic, treatment and documentation skills working in local communities and villages.
The medical patrol in East Sepik was the third confirmatory patrol that has been run since last year's course. In all, the three patrols have treated 1275 people in East Sepik and Central provinces in the last year.
WO Woods said, "These patrols are excellent practical training for PNGDF combat medics under field conditions. But also, they provide valuable and much needed treatment and medicines to remote communities that find it hard to access health care.”
Led by Lieutenant Raymond Pakii, 2 RPIR Recon Platoon Commander, the latest patrol has treated over 560 villagers and children in the villages of Balam, Kauk and Lowan to the west of Wewak. The PNGDF medics, supervised by WO Woods and Sergeant Jerry Aihi, Goldie River Training Depot, have treated the villagers for malaria, respiratory and skin ailments, as well as arthritis with medicines. Australia provided medical supplies worth K15, 000.