Will you visit Madang in 2025?

I have seen people do short videos of Madang and so I decided to try my hand at doing the same. 

Using a small drone, I went to several places in Madang and did some aerial shots. Here is the result:

I have always had this in the back of my mind - Its all about keep your skills fresh and up to date with technology changes. As the communication curriculum changes to match the changing digital technology, we too, as teachers need to update our skills. Flying a drone and understanding its unique role in content creation are key concepts we can introduce to our students. Im just learning this now but I hope to improve as a practise more!

Kundiawa to Gembogl road!!!!

 Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to Simbu Province, a place I have always heard about but was not able to travel to. I mean I was born and spent the early years of my life in Goroka town and I did hear about Simbu but never had the opportunity to travel there. 

Simbu Province has six Districts - Chuave, Guminae, Kundiawa-Gembogl, Kerowagi, Sina Sina Yongomugl and finally, Karamui/Nomane.Well this time, after so many years, I finally was able to travel there. The highlands highway was under a Government funded rehabilitation program so the road from Goroka to Simbu was very smooth. There were ocassional potholes, land slips, unsealed sections and even drops in ground level bit overall, the road was done very well. I got to experience the great Highlands Highway! 

When we arrived in Simbu province, I was even more amazed to see a District road was well rehabilitated. This video, shot using a Samsung A52 mobile phone, is about the road that runs from Kundiawa town to Gembogl station in the Kundiawa-Gembogl District of Simbu Province. The road was rehabilitated in 2018 by the PNG Government and funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of K105 million. It was one of multiple roads up in the highlands region that the PNG Government got a loan of K3billion back in 2017 to fund. Read more here from the two newspaper articles - Post Courier and The National about the road contracts. 

The Kundiawa Gembogl Road is an amazing road with the most beautiful scenery, cool mountain breeze and rugged terrain. We only stopped at Gembogl station but if you travel further on, you arrive at basecamp of Mt Wilhelm, the highest mountain in PNG. 

Kundiawa-Gembogl District is renowned for its fresh vegetables such as onion bulbs, cabbage, potatoes, carrot, peas, passionfruit and sweet potatoes.

Here is the video:

Shooting in Manual Mode

 One of the most important things I'm learning in this video shooting journey is the use of lighting. I'm beginning to see that lighting actually helps the camera find its focus points and remove blurry points on the subject's face and clothing. Most of the time when I shoot, I use AV option and maintain Automatic Focus (AF) on the 18-55mm camera lens. However, this next video that I'm doing, on the rural health program, is the next step as I begin shooting in manual mode and use natural sun light combined with a small camera mounted LED light, especially for the interviews. I'm using the Manual mode on the camera and use the Manual Focus (MF) on the camera lens as well. I'm excited to see the participant's faces and voices are clear as I edit the video using Adobe Premier Pro. Well, I need to save some money first so I can maybe purchase a good quality lighting system such as the Godox Softbox.

Let the story telling begin!

Migende Rural Hospital in Simbu

Signboard at the entrance of the rural hospital

 I have always heard about this hospital as one of the shining lights of the PNG Health Care System. In my personal bias view of course, I assume that the success of this health facility is because of its roots in the Catholic Church and of course the Catholic Health Services. It is evident from observation that the health facility is taken care of by the people who work there. Mingende Rural Hospital, designated as a level 3 facility by the National Department of Health (NDoH), received its official status on November 30, 2001.

The facility was a recipient of the PNG Incentive Fund some 20 years ago. The Australian government through the PNG Incentive Fund put in infrastructure worth over K3.5 million. This included improvements to Power, potable water and transport facilities to rural health centres and aid posts, x-ray, dental and pathological facilities and resources at Mingende rural hospital. Also an isolation ward, ambulance, surgical theatre equipment, medical waste disposal facility and improved rainwater storage.

The front of the hospital

Tokpisin signboard

Once of the entrances to the hospital building

The hospital area

In Papua New Guinea, it is important to have each District has its own hospital. These district hospitals known as rural hospitals would provide much needed stabilsation for patients that come from health centres. That should be the way, but today, most people in rural districts just go to the Provincial Hospitals. 

From the hospital look back to the main gate

One of the health centre ambulance parks in front of the hospital

The main administration building entrance and walkway

Some rural hospitals in PNG include Warongoi in East New Britain Province, Kapuna in Gulf Province, Kikori in Gulf Province, Rumginae in Western Province, Kudjip in Western Highlands Province, Kompiam in Enga Province and Saint Mary's in East New Britain Province.  According to the PNG Society for Rural and Remote Health, some of them are of superb standards, some are very run down and unfortunately some don’t function at all. One thing they all have in common though – they all continue to need help.

The hospital area

Even today, as I walked around some parts of the facility, the place reflects the standard of the improvements. Those who know more of the facility or even those who work there will give a better story of the state of affairs but as someone who just walked in for a few hours, I can truly say that this health facility is better than some of the facilities I have seen in some provinces in PNG. The Kerowagi Government website even states that this 50 bed facility is the 'best equipped' health facility in the Kerowagi District.

The main administration building

The reception area in the main administration building

Mr. Frank Yagahe from DWU and Sr. Erikeve Kiae from Migende pose just after we completed a video interview

The reception area of the main administration building

Meeting my former Health Management student Francisca Aglua at the Hospital premises.

I was fortunate to learn that one of my former students is the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer for the whole health facility. It is always good to see students have successful careers after they graduate from University and this M&E position is so important in providing data and information for the better management of the health facility. Congratutations Francisca!

My overall impression of the Migende Rural Hospital is that is a well managed health facility and will continue to grow. Like all health facilities across the country, it still needs consistent and adequate funding, infrastructure and specialist man power to keep it running smoothly. 

Good morning from Simbu Province

 I woke up to the best view in Papua New Guinea!!!!

The most amazing view this morning!

The sunflower just adds to the beauty of the morning

The hospital area

Another part of the hospital area

Travelling to Simbu Province

 I was born in Eastern Highlands and had my early childhood in Goroka, particularly in West Goroka. I grew up in a time when Goroka town was really the pearl of the Pacific - it was a quint little town tucked in the cool mountain air. I really have fond memories of growing up there. But that is another story of another time. You see, I had never been past Kefamo and Asaro. I had stayed in Goroka and knew that it was part of the greater Highlands region. I had longed to go past Eastern Highlands to Simbu and maybe Western Highlands one day. I was obviously over the moon when the opportunity arose for me to travel up to Simbu Province. The Rural Health Department of DWU had invited me to travel with them.

The Rural Health Department at Divine Word University runs the Health Extension Officer (HEO) training program. In the third year of studies, the students are sent out to rural health facilities in Madang, Morobe, Eastern Highlands, Simbu Proinces respectively. The students had been placed in rural health facilities in these provinces for a 10 week period. They were about to complete the rural placement program and the staff of the rural health department would be travelling to these places to pick up the students. They asked me to travel with them and eventually do a video of their rural placements program. I wanted to do this as this would enable me to have media content for my Youtube Channel and at the same time let me travel to Simbu - a place I have heard so much about but never had the opportunity to travel there. 

We left Madang town around 9am. Mr. Frank Yagahe had me as his passenger in the University Landcruiser vehicle. There were three vehicles in a convoy on this journey. The other two vehicles would be the university bus to pick up the students while the other car, a Toyota Hilux double cab would help with the transfer of cargoes including the Landcruiser. We travelled separately out of Madang town but when we reached the checkpoint at Mano, just outside town, we travelled together in a convoy. 

Boom Gate at Mano

The vehicles are inspected

The check

The bus got stuck as there were no passengers so less weight

The landcruiser was able to pull the bus up

One stop at Kawawar market for some peanuts and bananas

We did a usual stop a smaller markets alongside the highway to get fruits, mostly peanuts and bananas. Along the Usino highway section, we came across the scene where we heard that there was a hold up a few minutes before our arrival. We passed them and travelled onwards. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been hearing of arm holdups along this highway and this was alarming to see the bus had overturned in the middle of the road (I dont know how it happened). 

The overturned bus ahead

It had been a while since I had travelled the Highway between Madang and Ramu. The road was a bit rough along from the Usino Junction all the way to Ramu township. The oil palm along the highway has really brought about a change in scenary or might I say added a bit of view for people travelling the highway. There are multiple bridges along the way and smaller markets selling small stuff like mangos, pineapples and greens. We made a stop at Kesowai where there is a trade store there, toilets and good food. I decided not to eat anything because I felt that there was still a long way to go before we would reach Simbu. 

Signboard along the highway

One stop at Kesowai

I like this pattern - so simple yet so creative!

All highway buses do a stop at Kesowai

The road is smooth!

We arrived at Ramu and entered the Health Centre there. We entered the health facility and since it was Sunday, there weren't too many people around. Mr. Yagahe went see his students but they had gone out with the Health Centre staff to do some clinical rounds in the community. Mr. Yagahe met the only one remaining and told him to get his staff ready so that when we came back tomorrow, we would pick him up. We then left the health facility and travelled onwards.

Gusap Outpatient area

Mr. Yagahe checking one of the students

Mr. Yagahe letting him know that we will pick him up tomorrow when we come back this way

Gusap Outpatient area

Its Sunday so there are not too many patients here

The health centre wing looking towards the Ramu Highway

After we left Gusap township, we travelled on the road until we came along to the famous junction 'Watarais'. Some of the staff bought some coconuts and betelnuts to take to their relatives up in the Highlands. The junction is where the road intersects between Madang, Morobe and Eastern Highlands province.  

One stop at Watarais

The road towards Lae, Morobe Province

Starting out climb up to the Kassam Pass

It was a smooth climb up Kassam Pass. The National Government has upgraded this part of the highway. The China Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC) worked on the Watarais to Henganofi section of the road. Its interesting to note that the 430 kilometers from Nadzab airport in Morobe to Kagamuga airport in Western Highlands has cost around K1billion? We quickly made our way to Yonki Dam. I could see that the water level had fallen dramatically. Some years ago when i came past this way, the water was full and overflowing the dam. 

One stop at Yonki Dam

The water is receding

There is no water run off

One stop at fish market 

Just delicious fish!

Look at those yummy fish!

Stop before we continue onwards

We arrived in Goroka town at around 5pm and refilled the vehicles at West Goroka. West Goroka is the first place i lived. I was born in Goroka and my parents lived at West Goroka during the 80s. I have so many fond memories of this beautiful part of PNG. Anyway, Mr. Yagahe filled the three vehicles and we set off past Goroka town and made a brief stop at Kefamo Conference Centre. We went into the premises and waited for the 25 seater bus as it dropped off some items in town. When it arrived, we set off at around 6pm. 

Fuel refill at West Goroka

Standing at the fuel station and looking onto the Goroka Airport.

Kefamo Conference Centre

A pleasant afternoon in Kefamo

We made a stop at a roadside market and had some kai before taking off again. We drove up the famous Dualo Pass. The road was still in constrction but we travelled on the tar road quickly. As we drove, there were so many people walking up the decsent of the Daulo Pass. I was curious about this but Fank said that since it was Sunday, the locals must have gone to watch or participate in the local rugby league during the day and now were walking back to the village. The road was really good and we flew by easily. We arrived at Kundiawa town and it was empty at night. We drove past it and made our way to the Migende Rural Hospital. It was around 9 or 10pm when we arrived. The place was really cold. We managed to park the three vehicles in the hospital premises and made our way our accomodation. The house was located inside the hospital premises for guests who visited the hospital. A person who managed the house had prepared dinner for us. It was a welcome sight, warm and delicious. 

We settle down to eat

Sharing some plans for tomorrow

After the many hours on the road, we had some delicious kai

My plate! Marinated Chicken, vegetables and rice! I loved it.

Honestly the place was so cold. It was my first time in Simbu province. It was really something special for me. I have always longed to travel past Eastern Highlands to the other highlands province. I had taken the first step and achieved a personal milestone. When Mr. Yagahe mentioned some weeks ago that he would be travelling up here, I never hesitated. I told him 'Yes' in that instant and now I made it. 

I will tell you what we did the next day in my next post. For the time being, let me hit the comfy bed. 

Adios!