Pictured here are second year Health Management students getting ready for their first class on a Friday morning.
March 15, 2012
Its Friday in Red!
Each Friday of the week, the Health Management staff and students are asked to wear red to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in our country and promote a community that is free from HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination.
Pictured here are second year Health Management students getting ready for their first class on a Friday morning.
Pictured here are second year Health Management students getting ready for their first class on a Friday morning.
March 14, 2012
Health Managers must work with the Media to improve health information
Health Managers can play a huge role in how people respond to public health issues in the media
This was the message from Ms. Rosalyn Albaniel Evara who is the Bureau Chief for the Madang Branch of the Post Courier when she talked to the Health Management Year four students.
Mrs. Evara said that many times people who are in charge of public health the provinces such as health managers and administrators have a role to play when it comes to relaying the correct information to people through the media.
She said: “Why is there now a resurgence of leprosy cases? We thought that we had done away with this disease but now it is creeping back into our society. Why is it that now we are seeing cases of deformities presenting in our hospitals that our doctors are alarmed at?
“The reasons as to why such diseases and health problems are coming back must be researched and its findings presented to the media so that people are aware of this public health issue.
“ The media and health managers must work together to inform the public about what is happening in our communities.
This was the message from Ms. Rosalyn Albaniel Evara who is the Bureau Chief for the Madang Branch of the Post Courier when she talked to the Health Management Year four students.
Mrs. Evara said that many times people who are in charge of public health the provinces such as health managers and administrators have a role to play when it comes to relaying the correct information to people through the media.
She said: “Why is there now a resurgence of leprosy cases? We thought that we had done away with this disease but now it is creeping back into our society. Why is it that now we are seeing cases of deformities presenting in our hospitals that our doctors are alarmed at?
“The reasons as to why such diseases and health problems are coming back must be researched and its findings presented to the media so that people are aware of this public health issue.
“ The media and health managers must work together to inform the public about what is happening in our communities.
Rosalyn talking to the Helath Management Year four students.
Mrs. Evara, as part of her talk, outlined many aspects of the newspaper industry that she worked on.
She said that the most fulfilling part of her work was when she writes stories about health and because of the stories are highlighted in the papers, help is immediate and forthcoming to those in need.
“I don’t have a vehicle to do my job. I travel by bus or on foot to court houses, tertiary institutions, police stations, companies, provincial governments and many other places to get news. The pay isn’t so good and the hours are long but I do it because I have a passion for this country. I want to write about things that change peoples lives for the better. If I can write a story and a mother in a remote Josephstal can have water piped to her village, that, for me, is the pinnacle of helping Papua New Guinea move forward.
Her session with the HM year four students is part of the ‘HM 403 Working with the Media’ course to learn more about how newspaper in the country operate.
She said that the most fulfilling part of her work was when she writes stories about health and because of the stories are highlighted in the papers, help is immediate and forthcoming to those in need.
“I don’t have a vehicle to do my job. I travel by bus or on foot to court houses, tertiary institutions, police stations, companies, provincial governments and many other places to get news. The pay isn’t so good and the hours are long but I do it because I have a passion for this country. I want to write about things that change peoples lives for the better. If I can write a story and a mother in a remote Josephstal can have water piped to her village, that, for me, is the pinnacle of helping Papua New Guinea move forward.
Her session with the HM year four students is part of the ‘HM 403 Working with the Media’ course to learn more about how newspaper in the country operate.
February 05, 2012
A letter to Teen Me
Recently while surfing the web I came across a website of a person who wrote a letter to herself as a teengaer and addressed her younger self as 'Teen Me'. I thought it was one of the coolest things I had seen so far as the lettter was addressed to her younger self in the third person.
So I've decied to write a letter to Teen Me. As a teenager, I got transferred to ECOM High School and started school in the beginning of 1995. Below is a letter to my self as a teenager in ECOM.
Dear Teen Me,
It’s the beginning of the year 1995 and you have entered a new school. I know when you first entered the brick building known as the boys dorm at the old site, you must have felt uneasy and confused about what to do. Your dorm was just a few steps from the practical skills building and the girls dorm was just across a few meters away. Don’t worry too much about making friends. For the next two years, you will learn to develop friendships with some unique people especially the students of 9B. Don’t worry about the setting of the school – classroom buildings made from sago leaves and cane sewn blinds and floor of sand– as many years from now you will say you came from a humble school; -).
I think one of the best people you will ever meet and enjoy his friendship the most will be Nick Paran from Kawaliap. He will be your desk mate and over the course of the next few months, you will grow to like his character. You and him will team up with Kilepak Kiliwi and Simon Kawetan, two guys from your mothers’s island, Mbuke, and at certain times during classes you will make all kinds of silly jokes concerning food and the way it is cooked. You will laugh so hard as you have never laughed before and there will be tears in your eyes. The other students will get angry at you guys for laughing yourselves silly and will want to stop you. Teen me, these times that you laughed with these four guys will be some of your best memories of high school ever!
Teen Me, you will be a coconut climber and climb so many coconut trees at the old site and in the bushes surrounding the school area. Once you leave ECOM, you will hardly ever climb coconuts again and these days will be only treasured memories. Why I say is because some 17 years from now, you will be overweight and wear thick glasses and coconut climbing will never be a part of your world...hahahaha.
I think one of the teachers that will ignite your passion for Maths and Science will be Mr. Basil Pere. You will be enthusiastic about learning Pythagoras theorems and Odds ratio – subjects that you have had a distaste for when you were in grade 8. Another teacher that will stand out will be Mr. Henry Apo, the guy who actually was Bundrahei High School’s first principle, I think. Yep, he will teach you English, Social Science and Religious studies? Well after all these years you will still remember one bible verse he talked about: 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil and he explained that it was not money but it was the love of money that was the root of all evil and for the first time you will know the difference. Another task master aka teacher of yours will be known as Mr. Saramasi, the guy from Mortlock who married a lady from Pere village and who 17 years from now will be the principle of Karkar High School. Yeah one thing that you will remember many years after your stay in ECOM will that you will learn the scientific names of vegetable from his classes and they will become like second nature to you. These scientific names will include Ipomea Batata (kaukau) cocos nucifera (coconut) and colocasia esculata (taro). Another of your teachers that will have an impact on your life – well your cooking and dining life – will be Mrs. Pokawin, yes the wife of then Premier of Manus or was it Open Member for Manus? Anyway, since ECOM is one of the very few schools where all students are taught Home Economics and Practical skills, you will actually learn how to cook in her classes! And I tell you that her lessons from your days in ECOM will always have an effect on the way you will prepare and cook food. Wow does that say too much about her? Yes Teen Me, all these teachers of yours will influence your decisions about life and later in life when you are in you 30s, you will appreciate these people in ECOM. Yes don’t woory about starting a life chapter of your life in this church run school because Teen Me, many many years from now, you will very much treasure your time in ECOM because it gave you some many good memories about life as a teenager. So don’t worry, get up and mingle with your class mates and get to know them well. They will be your friend and family over the next 24 months.
Well Teen Me, I have to leave you now and go attend to somebody special. You know what? One day you will have a special person in your life - a child! Yes a child, Teen Me. A lovely, lovely human being that will light up your life. I will tell you more about her...yes Teen Me, its a girl!...Maybe next time, I will write another letter to encourage you during your time in ECOM. I have so many good things to tell you about ECOM especially in grade 9 and then in grade 10. So catch later Teen Me.
Your older self from 2012
So I've decied to write a letter to Teen Me. As a teenager, I got transferred to ECOM High School and started school in the beginning of 1995. Below is a letter to my self as a teenager in ECOM.
Dear Teen Me,
It’s the beginning of the year 1995 and you have entered a new school. I know when you first entered the brick building known as the boys dorm at the old site, you must have felt uneasy and confused about what to do. Your dorm was just a few steps from the practical skills building and the girls dorm was just across a few meters away. Don’t worry too much about making friends. For the next two years, you will learn to develop friendships with some unique people especially the students of 9B. Don’t worry about the setting of the school – classroom buildings made from sago leaves and cane sewn blinds and floor of sand– as many years from now you will say you came from a humble school; -).
I think one of the best people you will ever meet and enjoy his friendship the most will be Nick Paran from Kawaliap. He will be your desk mate and over the course of the next few months, you will grow to like his character. You and him will team up with Kilepak Kiliwi and Simon Kawetan, two guys from your mothers’s island, Mbuke, and at certain times during classes you will make all kinds of silly jokes concerning food and the way it is cooked. You will laugh so hard as you have never laughed before and there will be tears in your eyes. The other students will get angry at you guys for laughing yourselves silly and will want to stop you. Teen me, these times that you laughed with these four guys will be some of your best memories of high school ever!
Teen Me, you will be a coconut climber and climb so many coconut trees at the old site and in the bushes surrounding the school area. Once you leave ECOM, you will hardly ever climb coconuts again and these days will be only treasured memories. Why I say is because some 17 years from now, you will be overweight and wear thick glasses and coconut climbing will never be a part of your world...hahahaha.
I think one of the teachers that will ignite your passion for Maths and Science will be Mr. Basil Pere. You will be enthusiastic about learning Pythagoras theorems and Odds ratio – subjects that you have had a distaste for when you were in grade 8. Another teacher that will stand out will be Mr. Henry Apo, the guy who actually was Bundrahei High School’s first principle, I think. Yep, he will teach you English, Social Science and Religious studies? Well after all these years you will still remember one bible verse he talked about: 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil and he explained that it was not money but it was the love of money that was the root of all evil and for the first time you will know the difference. Another task master aka teacher of yours will be known as Mr. Saramasi, the guy from Mortlock who married a lady from Pere village and who 17 years from now will be the principle of Karkar High School. Yeah one thing that you will remember many years after your stay in ECOM will that you will learn the scientific names of vegetable from his classes and they will become like second nature to you. These scientific names will include Ipomea Batata (kaukau) cocos nucifera (coconut) and colocasia esculata (taro). Another of your teachers that will have an impact on your life – well your cooking and dining life – will be Mrs. Pokawin, yes the wife of then Premier of Manus or was it Open Member for Manus? Anyway, since ECOM is one of the very few schools where all students are taught Home Economics and Practical skills, you will actually learn how to cook in her classes! And I tell you that her lessons from your days in ECOM will always have an effect on the way you will prepare and cook food. Wow does that say too much about her? Yes Teen Me, all these teachers of yours will influence your decisions about life and later in life when you are in you 30s, you will appreciate these people in ECOM. Yes don’t woory about starting a life chapter of your life in this church run school because Teen Me, many many years from now, you will very much treasure your time in ECOM because it gave you some many good memories about life as a teenager. So don’t worry, get up and mingle with your class mates and get to know them well. They will be your friend and family over the next 24 months.
Well Teen Me, I have to leave you now and go attend to somebody special. You know what? One day you will have a special person in your life - a child! Yes a child, Teen Me. A lovely, lovely human being that will light up your life. I will tell you more about her...yes Teen Me, its a girl!...Maybe next time, I will write another letter to encourage you during your time in ECOM. I have so many good things to tell you about ECOM especially in grade 9 and then in grade 10. So catch later Teen Me.
Your older self from 2012
December 03, 2011
Automatic reply from student emails
What a year it has been! It wasnt the best but hey it wasnt the worst either. There were some things that made the dull days much better. One of these things was 'automatic replys'. Sometimes, when i send emails to students I immediately receive thier automatic reply message that is programed in their email system. While most are formal and straight forward, some are just plain hilarious. Here are some of the auto replies that i got this year:
- your message has reached its destination. THIS JOURNO WILL ATTEND TO IT WHEN VIEWED. thank you ,YAWO as in bye.
- Hey thanks alot for the message n guess what you the best n will always remain the best......
- Thanks buddy ....you relaxing hey!...Unavailable @ this instant but will read up ASAP!...Geeeee..,..!
- Please Call Me!!!
- Oh its you again! Dont worry I'll get back to you pronto.
- Is somewhere on campus doing something very important so will get back to you asap
- Thanks for the email. Much luv!
- Iam currently unavailable so i will come to you right on the line later!
- If I do not respond to this email in the next hour, that means Iam on a news hunting trip...I'll get back to you asap!
I hope i can get to some original and innovative one liners next year!
See you then....
November 28, 2011
Message in a bottle: From the Bismarck Sea to the Solomon Sea!
Around this time sometime in December 2004, I had boarded a Lutheran Shipping vessel from Lae and travelled to Manus. Iam not sure which ship is was but it definately was either MV Manemba or MV Umboi which Iam sure many people who travel by ship know. From Lae it takes one full day and two nights on the open sea before we land in Loregnau town. As is the custom when travelling on long trip over the sea, we have lots of fresh fruits, home cooked meals and lots of water to keep stay on these cargo ships as homely as possible.
I went home for the holidays then came back to Lae. It was the year 2005 now. I was working away when early in March that year, I received a letter. Here is the letter below:
And here is the exact letter that was written....
Anyway, we left the Lae port at around 5pm and began the journey. By 10pm people like myself were already sound asleep. I woke up at 5pm to the sound of the sailors pulling in yellow fin tuna and mackeral. During the day I had nothing to do but play cards and tell stories with however i met on the ship. Besides, the majority on the ship were Manusians so it wasnt hard finding people who told stories..lol
At around midday, we were heading full steam ahead, the sea was calm, the wind was slight and as far as the eye could see, there was no sign of land in all directions. After I had eaten salty biscuits and drunk a 500ml coca cola, I decided to try sending a letter in a bottle. I think i was inspired by a story that in the 1700s, a Japanese crew of 44, were shipwrecked and marooned on a small Island in the South Pacific. The captain scratched details of their story and fate onto chips of wood and put them into a bottle. The bottle was found 150 years later on the shoreline of Japan, reportedly, close to where the sailors had grew up.
Well i wrote i my name and postal address on the white inside part of the cocacola label and said that whoever found it should write to me. In the middle of the Bismarck Sea, I threw the bottle
And here is the exact letter that was written....
The coke plastic bottle with my note inside had reached Poroporo village at the tip of the Choiseul Province in the Solomon Islands. It had gone international! WOW!!!!
It was picked up by a Mr. Andrew Silukana of poroporo village just across the Papua New Guinea border! It had taken almost two months from when I first threw the bottle in the middle of the Bismarck to when Andrew picked it up in his village. I dont know how it travelled there but my assumption is that it must have travelled past the gap between Manus and New Ireland and then the strong tides of the Pacific Ocean travelling south must have pushed it down past Bouganville right through to the tip of Choiseul province where Poroporo village is.
On that same day I quickly wrote a letter back to him on the address he had provided. But sadly, to this day I havent received a reply. If anyone in Solomon Islands knows Andrew Silukana, please let me know!
On that same day I quickly wrote a letter back to him on the address he had provided. But sadly, to this day I havent received a reply. If anyone in Solomon Islands knows Andrew Silukana, please let me know!
October 29, 2011
Leaving this place as a student...
Well its October now. The school year has ended. Well for the students that is. Many have already left the campus and many will continue to leave the campus in the coming days. Then the campus will be quiet - too quiet for my liking...hahahaha.
The bad thing about leaving DWU for holidays is that if you are in fourth year - it will be very hard to say goodbye to your friends. It will be painful alright. The other day I was walking past the boys dorm area and I could see a young men hug a group of his friends -his bags on their shoulders and the PMV bus waiting by ready to go. I could see that a few were wiping tears from their eyes and then the other one walked up to bus, waved goodbye and the bus took off.
This made me remember two incidents that I experienced just before i was to leave DWU at the end of the school year in 2003. Now I may see them in a funny light but back then, it was no laughing matter.
My room mate or what was commoly known then as 'roomsie' was a tall higherlander by the name of David Gera. He was the typical Highlander, physcially strong, intelligence and a down to earth person. He took PNG studies and I took CA. We were both in 4th year and we had been roomsies at Cottage A room 5 for two semesters and had shared loads of laughter and good times. On the day he was to leave, his 'hauslain' had come to pick him up. There were about five or six of them sitting in the back of the care. They had come in a Toyata Landcruiser. He had already packed the night before. I stepped out of the room and let him take his things to the car - an open back landcruizer. Once he had packed all his things, he quickly walked passed said 'goodby mate', put up the last things on the car and they drove off. That was all he said. I think its a thing among us the male species - we dont like to show our emtions especially the going away type ones.
Well I stood on the cottage steps and with the other residents of cottage A waved good bye and wished them well. We watched them drive off.
Along the way past the timber workshop and student mess, all of a sudden I heard some of the passengers sitting at the back of the cruizer fired some wild words loudly and shouted something in their language to the driver. The car stopped. Then I saw it reversed back to the cottage area. As I stood I saw my roomsie jump down from the back of the car and run towards us. He came and grabbed me in a bear hug and together we cried like somebody had died! We let the tears flow freely for a good 15 minutes until his father started blaring the horn of the car and telling us to break it up. It sounded funny as Iam writing this but back then it was one truly a sad moment! To this day, I have not seen my roomsie. I hear that he is with the Royal PNG Constabulary but have never actually seen him yet.
A few days later I was again involved in another incident that I also clearly remember to the day as I was leaving on the bus to go to to Lae. The 15 seater bus had picked me and some other boys at the cottage area. In the bus too was the then DWU SRC President David Kitchnoge. As we drove slowly past the timber workshop and student mess, I could sense that many of the boys were tearing up inside knowing they would never set foot on this place again. You know we often say that PNG is a small country but when you depart from school, you know in your heart of hearts that you will never see some of your brothers again. So the last time you see them, there are bound to be strong emtotions all around.
Anyway, we were feeling the hurt and David was by the window of the bus looked out and said in a sad way: 'Displa em last time blo mi na mi wari ya' and then as we came to the junior dorm and some of the boys came over to the bus to say goodbye. The bus driver seeing the boys approach the care, stopped. David, while sitting in the bus, shook their hands and tried to hugg them but it was when he saw this young West Papuan student -Nelson, he could not hold himself and burst into tears. The boys inside and outside the bus were also choking up. The realisation had hit home: We were never going to be students again and we were going to leave this place and friendships behind.
One of the boys shouted to the driver, as if angrily: "Draiva yu take off nau ya! Em ol mangi ya bai nonap stop sopos yu stap yet." and the driver kind of revved the car to let us know and then slowly pulled to the road and we left.
There will only one time that you will ever be a student and share such fun and excitment with your friends. Once you leave DWU, you may never come back to visit or even see the place again. Even if you did come back, there will be the possibility that no-one here will recognise you and also the physical setting will have changed.
So sapos em last taim blong yu long DWU, orait pinisim olgeta aiwara na pinis ok yu ken go!
The bad thing about leaving DWU for holidays is that if you are in fourth year - it will be very hard to say goodbye to your friends. It will be painful alright. The other day I was walking past the boys dorm area and I could see a young men hug a group of his friends -his bags on their shoulders and the PMV bus waiting by ready to go. I could see that a few were wiping tears from their eyes and then the other one walked up to bus, waved goodbye and the bus took off.
This made me remember two incidents that I experienced just before i was to leave DWU at the end of the school year in 2003. Now I may see them in a funny light but back then, it was no laughing matter.
My room mate or what was commoly known then as 'roomsie' was a tall higherlander by the name of David Gera. He was the typical Highlander, physcially strong, intelligence and a down to earth person. He took PNG studies and I took CA. We were both in 4th year and we had been roomsies at Cottage A room 5 for two semesters and had shared loads of laughter and good times. On the day he was to leave, his 'hauslain' had come to pick him up. There were about five or six of them sitting in the back of the care. They had come in a Toyata Landcruiser. He had already packed the night before. I stepped out of the room and let him take his things to the car - an open back landcruizer. Once he had packed all his things, he quickly walked passed said 'goodby mate', put up the last things on the car and they drove off. That was all he said. I think its a thing among us the male species - we dont like to show our emtions especially the going away type ones.
Well I stood on the cottage steps and with the other residents of cottage A waved good bye and wished them well. We watched them drive off.
Along the way past the timber workshop and student mess, all of a sudden I heard some of the passengers sitting at the back of the cruizer fired some wild words loudly and shouted something in their language to the driver. The car stopped. Then I saw it reversed back to the cottage area. As I stood I saw my roomsie jump down from the back of the car and run towards us. He came and grabbed me in a bear hug and together we cried like somebody had died! We let the tears flow freely for a good 15 minutes until his father started blaring the horn of the car and telling us to break it up. It sounded funny as Iam writing this but back then it was one truly a sad moment! To this day, I have not seen my roomsie. I hear that he is with the Royal PNG Constabulary but have never actually seen him yet.
A few days later I was again involved in another incident that I also clearly remember to the day as I was leaving on the bus to go to to Lae. The 15 seater bus had picked me and some other boys at the cottage area. In the bus too was the then DWU SRC President David Kitchnoge. As we drove slowly past the timber workshop and student mess, I could sense that many of the boys were tearing up inside knowing they would never set foot on this place again. You know we often say that PNG is a small country but when you depart from school, you know in your heart of hearts that you will never see some of your brothers again. So the last time you see them, there are bound to be strong emtotions all around.
Anyway, we were feeling the hurt and David was by the window of the bus looked out and said in a sad way: 'Displa em last time blo mi na mi wari ya' and then as we came to the junior dorm and some of the boys came over to the bus to say goodbye. The bus driver seeing the boys approach the care, stopped. David, while sitting in the bus, shook their hands and tried to hugg them but it was when he saw this young West Papuan student -Nelson, he could not hold himself and burst into tears. The boys inside and outside the bus were also choking up. The realisation had hit home: We were never going to be students again and we were going to leave this place and friendships behind.
One of the boys shouted to the driver, as if angrily: "Draiva yu take off nau ya! Em ol mangi ya bai nonap stop sopos yu stap yet." and the driver kind of revved the car to let us know and then slowly pulled to the road and we left.
There will only one time that you will ever be a student and share such fun and excitment with your friends. Once you leave DWU, you may never come back to visit or even see the place again. Even if you did come back, there will be the possibility that no-one here will recognise you and also the physical setting will have changed.
So sapos em last taim blong yu long DWU, orait pinisim olgeta aiwara na pinis ok yu ken go!
October 06, 2011
A visit to Globe Manufacturing factory in Madang
Globe Manufacturing Limited is a part of the WR Carpenters (PNG) Group of Business which is one of PNG's largest employers.
I was very priviledged to have a look around the company's production line and packing section at Globe Manufacturing's factory in Madang. I went along with first year Communication Arts students and their lectuer to have a look at what they acturaly do to make thier well known products such as Sita Corned Beef, Globe Cooking Oil, Globe Curry Chicken and many other popular products.
Br. Micheal introduces to our tour guides.. 
Part of the CA1 group
Globe Corned Beef tins ready for the production line
A stack of tins
Unused or faulty cooking oil plastics stored in this container
The plastic bottles being labelled on one side before they go in for filling
Tins already sealed, lablled and then prepared for packing
the tins again...
Earlier in September, Globe Manufauring took over the Coconut Oil Production Madang Limited (COPM).
September 16, 2011
16th September 2011
Do you remember where you were and what you did on September 16 last year? What about the year before? An the year before that? The 16th of September is a very special day for Papua New Guinean. Each year, September 16 marks our country most important calendar day - Independence - a very important day for Papua New Guineans and individuals, social networks, families, clubs, schools and many other groups get together to celebrate this memorable day. I could go on and on how why it is important for us to celebrate.....but i wont. Today Iam putting up pictures of my celebration this year - 2011. The Health management Department here in the DWU main campus took time out to celebrate this day with a combined staff and student ’Independence meal’ or a get together meal or as we say it in Pidgin, a 'bung kaikai'
I was sitting there in the shade of the gum tree next to the classroom when the the Head of the Health Management Department, Ms. Margaret Samei to ld the group of staff and famlies and students that the idea to have this celebration was to remember the day we became a sovereign nation and to not forget that we are a free nation of over 800 language groups guided by one constitution that encourages freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and the right to come to school and be educated among many good things that many other countries around the world do not have. She said that despite many difficult struggles that a lot of Papua New Guineans face, we could also be thankful for many things that we often take for granted. At the same time, at this small meal, the HM Department also took time out to acknowledge and farewell the year four students. I think it is an achivement itself to start a program and keep at it over a four year period then come out off it on top. Now with just a few days before to go, they are content but know in their hearts that they will miss their friends terribly. I guess it is just one phase of life that students go through from being a student to working in the field. I, too, did feel the same thing many years ago.
The HOD said: “ These 24 young men and women have just a few weeks to go before they move on onto the PNG workforce. “The have been here for four years and have learnt a lot both in theory and in practice. “I wish them all the best and encourage them to never forget the good values they have learnt in Health Management and Divine Word University. The HM Department also said farewell to one of our more influential lectures Mr. Albert Sika who left the HM Department earlier this year to join the Modilon Hospital as the Director of Corporate Services. After all the short speechs and a gift and poem reading by the second years to farewell Mr. Sika, Mr. Ambang prayed for the day and also blessed the meal.
The food was really good, the cake was beautiful anf i jsut loved the happy smiling faces of the students.
Mr. Peter Sion who organized the event said that he was pleased the students responded well with the idea. He hoped that this event would become a tradition and help the students and academics staff feel part of the DWU community and work towards a common good for PNG. Well em tasol and I hope we get to celebrate this day again next year!
Below are the pictures on that day!
Planti piksa tumas na hard tru long putim olgeta go antap long hia...
I was sitting there in the shade of the gum tree next to the classroom when the the Head of the Health Management Department, Ms. Margaret Samei to ld the group of staff and famlies and students that the idea to have this celebration was to remember the day we became a sovereign nation and to not forget that we are a free nation of over 800 language groups guided by one constitution that encourages freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and the right to come to school and be educated among many good things that many other countries around the world do not have. She said that despite many difficult struggles that a lot of Papua New Guineans face, we could also be thankful for many things that we often take for granted. At the same time, at this small meal, the HM Department also took time out to acknowledge and farewell the year four students. I think it is an achivement itself to start a program and keep at it over a four year period then come out off it on top. Now with just a few days before to go, they are content but know in their hearts that they will miss their friends terribly. I guess it is just one phase of life that students go through from being a student to working in the field. I, too, did feel the same thing many years ago.
The HOD said: “ These 24 young men and women have just a few weeks to go before they move on onto the PNG workforce. “The have been here for four years and have learnt a lot both in theory and in practice. “I wish them all the best and encourage them to never forget the good values they have learnt in Health Management and Divine Word University. The HM Department also said farewell to one of our more influential lectures Mr. Albert Sika who left the HM Department earlier this year to join the Modilon Hospital as the Director of Corporate Services. After all the short speechs and a gift and poem reading by the second years to farewell Mr. Sika, Mr. Ambang prayed for the day and also blessed the meal.
The food was really good, the cake was beautiful anf i jsut loved the happy smiling faces of the students.
Mr. Peter Sion who organized the event said that he was pleased the students responded well with the idea. He hoped that this event would become a tradition and help the students and academics staff feel part of the DWU community and work towards a common good for PNG. Well em tasol and I hope we get to celebrate this day again next year!
Below are the pictures on that day!
Planti piksa tumas na hard tru long putim olgeta go antap long hia...
July 30, 2011
A Reason
Sometimes, things in life do not fall in the places where I want them to fall. I guess that is the way it is. There are some things I can control but sometimes I just cannot seem to have a grasp on it. Be it petty things like walking in the rain or wearing a wrinkled shirt; things that put my day into a bad mood. Other things like paying for school fees or taking care of family are activities that demand more of me and sometimes causes me to stress over it.
But whatever they may be, they always, and i say always...become pale in comparision to the sight of my daughter. When i come home each afternoon, her face is the one i want to see. She is the world to me. She is ten months old and is the brightest spark in my life. When i have very difficult days and everything seems to be a blur, her smile just makes me want to hug and kiss her till her skin is red all over...hahahha. She is developing quickly physically and each day she is learning about new things - shapes, colour, taste and hearing. I hope she starts speaking soon, takes her first steps and can call my name. I know it wont be too long now.
But whatever they may be, they always, and i say always...become pale in comparision to the sight of my daughter. When i come home each afternoon, her face is the one i want to see. She is the world to me. She is ten months old and is the brightest spark in my life. When i have very difficult days and everything seems to be a blur, her smile just makes me want to hug and kiss her till her skin is red all over...hahahha. She is developing quickly physically and each day she is learning about new things - shapes, colour, taste and hearing. I hope she starts speaking soon, takes her first steps and can call my name. I know it wont be too long now.
June 09, 2011
Microsoft Access Database Design for NGOs
For everyone who works with a non-governmental organisation, faithbased organisation or community based orgnisation in PNG, this four day workshop on creating simple electronic databases is one huge key building block for the organisation's project sustainability, future funding and resource management.
Their information brochure reads:
This dynamic four day workshop run by Divine Word University is intended for people working with Non-Governmental Organizations in Papua New Guinea.
It aims to help organizations gain the capacity to create and manage their own electronic databases. Examples of how this skill could be useful include:
• Keeping records of clients who come to a NGO clinic. Their personal details like age, weight,
medications, residential area etc can be kept and be easily retrieved by a single push of a
button. This saves time and money spent keeping manual records
• Keeping records of types of publications distributed by the NGO. Names of organizations
that received your publications in bulk, locations of distribution points, numbers of publications
distributed etc can be kept to monitor usage and justification for future projects.
• If your organization already has a small database created, the information kept such as:
how many people visit your organization for help or for services etc could be easily turned
into statistics thus reproduced into professional reports such as Annual Activity Plans or
Project Reports.
Although less extensive, this four day course offers a budget-priced educational experience designed to help stimulate your creative mind. This hands-on workshop will provide you with effective new ways to extend Access 2007 in creating electronic databases.
The workshop will provide participants with illustrative examples, notes, and sample annotated Access files, as well as suggestions for ways to adapt the techniques to your own needs. Particpants will utilise Microsoft Access 2007 to create these databases.
You will learn how to exploit Access storing and retrievingcapabilities using SQL to retrieve informationin Queries, Tables, Forms and Reports.
Your electronicdatabases can be a tool you can use to storecommunity project information and other vital datathat would become beneficial to your Organizationand your partners. Such features will include:• Data tables• Queries• SQL parameters• Interactive Forms• Reports.
This workshop will provide participants with Access foundation and after completing this workshop, they can be able to create their organization's database system. Participate who wish to gain further training on how to maintain their database system can attend the nextworkshop which is a special workshop in advanced Access later on in the year.
Note: One of the requirements of this course is that participantsmust have strong background in the use ofcomputers especially the use of Microsoft office.
Cost for this workshop
Participant cost: Cost: K 450.00 per head
Cost will cover:
• Duration of the workshop
• Use of computer facilities
• Lunch at the staff mess
Cost will not cover:
• Accommodation
• Travel
• Additional meals
Location for the four day Workshop is at the Divine Word University Campus in Madang Province.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Thadreina Abady on
Phone: (675) 422 2937
Direct Line: (675) 424 1882
Fax: (675) 422 2812
E-mail: tabady@dwu.ac.pg
Their information brochure reads:
This dynamic four day workshop run by Divine Word University is intended for people working with Non-Governmental Organizations in Papua New Guinea.
It aims to help organizations gain the capacity to create and manage their own electronic databases. Examples of how this skill could be useful include:
• Keeping records of clients who come to a NGO clinic. Their personal details like age, weight,
medications, residential area etc can be kept and be easily retrieved by a single push of a
button. This saves time and money spent keeping manual records
• Keeping records of types of publications distributed by the NGO. Names of organizations
that received your publications in bulk, locations of distribution points, numbers of publications
distributed etc can be kept to monitor usage and justification for future projects.
• If your organization already has a small database created, the information kept such as:
how many people visit your organization for help or for services etc could be easily turned
into statistics thus reproduced into professional reports such as Annual Activity Plans or
Project Reports.
Although less extensive, this four day course offers a budget-priced educational experience designed to help stimulate your creative mind. This hands-on workshop will provide you with effective new ways to extend Access 2007 in creating electronic databases.
The workshop will provide participants with illustrative examples, notes, and sample annotated Access files, as well as suggestions for ways to adapt the techniques to your own needs. Particpants will utilise Microsoft Access 2007 to create these databases.
You will learn how to exploit Access storing and retrievingcapabilities using SQL to retrieve informationin Queries, Tables, Forms and Reports.
Your electronicdatabases can be a tool you can use to storecommunity project information and other vital datathat would become beneficial to your Organizationand your partners. Such features will include:• Data tables• Queries• SQL parameters• Interactive Forms• Reports.
This workshop will provide participants with Access foundation and after completing this workshop, they can be able to create their organization's database system. Participate who wish to gain further training on how to maintain their database system can attend the nextworkshop which is a special workshop in advanced Access later on in the year.
Note: One of the requirements of this course is that participantsmust have strong background in the use ofcomputers especially the use of Microsoft office.
Cost for this workshop
Participant cost: Cost: K 450.00 per head
Cost will cover:
• Duration of the workshop
• Use of computer facilities
• Lunch at the staff mess
Cost will not cover:
• Accommodation
• Travel
• Additional meals
Location for the four day Workshop is at the Divine Word University Campus in Madang Province.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Thadreina Abady on
Phone: (675) 422 2937
Direct Line: (675) 424 1882
Fax: (675) 422 2812
E-mail: tabady@dwu.ac.pg
May 27, 2011
15 weeks of transition
Friday 27th May
Well today marks the last day of the first semester. It also marks the end of my first semester as a teacher here. Wow…I really did survive this transition from being a student to becoming a teacher of other students. You know a few years ago, if somebody had said that I would be teaching university students, I would look at them strangely and then burst out laughing. My unbelief coupled with my very limited years of experience in the workplace guaranteed me ample ammunition to suggest that I was unfit for this endeavour of teaching in a tertiary institution in Papua New Guinea. Besides, I would be as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I mean I had no teaching experience whatsoever and here I was trying to lecture students on how the world should be viewed, accepted, critiqued, laughed at and even loved. Well, I took the plunge in January this year into the life of being a academic and here Iam – still alive!
Now 15 weeks later, I look back and say with heart filled with confidence that I took a very important step along this path. Even though I have bumped, skidded, fell or pushed myself over the weeks, today ensured that I had gone into and come out on top. I had set out to give my best to teach students about why the world goes round and how they could contribute to our country’s development (as cliché as it may sound, I actually tried to impress this idea upon them). However, there were little things I saw along the way that put my heart down. Such was the case when I saw a few students who do not really appreciate or understand the fact that there were in university and have access to high quality learning resources. Seriously, if only you were very bright yet could not secure a place at a university and were out on the street, you would understand how a person like that would feel. There were others who didn’t have time to read or do independent research and just wanted all things to come from the lecturer. There were also others who were to lazy to even attempt assignments. Yet in each of these students, I did see a picture of myself when I was in university –someone who just wanted to be average and get out of here. Now as I sit and look back, the potential to do great things is just around the corner for these young Papua New Guineas. Iam in a privileged position because for 15 weeks I get to mould their minds and teach them how the world works not only in class but also out of the classroom too. Today’s student is much more equipped then those previously and has enough ability to go further then before and so much be encouraged to do so. I believe that it is also part of the lecturer’s duty to instill confidence in the student to seek out higher learning.
I think one of the greatest lessons, I have learnt these past 15 weeks, is to be true to yourself. If you do not know something or an idea or theory is beyond you, you need to acknowledge that in class, come back, do your research and then go back and tackle that issue or idea. It is no use pretending to know something you do not know. Be true to your students and peers because they deserve that respect.
Another thing I have learnt is to be creative in your teaching methodology. Most students hate being in the position where the lecturer talks all throughout the lesson and they have to listen. This process is painful for the student as his or her ability to gain knowledge is lost through frustration of not being able to participatein the learning process. I have been at fault in this case and the key for me is to think of different ways to teach ideas rather then just lecturing to the students.
Well I got another 15 more weeks next semester and Iam already looking forward to the challenge. I dread the workload but I guess I just have to prepare well and make sure I get all the unit outlines and resources ready. When the students arrive in July, it will be on again.
Well today marks the last day of the first semester. It also marks the end of my first semester as a teacher here. Wow…I really did survive this transition from being a student to becoming a teacher of other students. You know a few years ago, if somebody had said that I would be teaching university students, I would look at them strangely and then burst out laughing. My unbelief coupled with my very limited years of experience in the workplace guaranteed me ample ammunition to suggest that I was unfit for this endeavour of teaching in a tertiary institution in Papua New Guinea. Besides, I would be as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I mean I had no teaching experience whatsoever and here I was trying to lecture students on how the world should be viewed, accepted, critiqued, laughed at and even loved. Well, I took the plunge in January this year into the life of being a academic and here Iam – still alive!
Now 15 weeks later, I look back and say with heart filled with confidence that I took a very important step along this path. Even though I have bumped, skidded, fell or pushed myself over the weeks, today ensured that I had gone into and come out on top. I had set out to give my best to teach students about why the world goes round and how they could contribute to our country’s development (as cliché as it may sound, I actually tried to impress this idea upon them). However, there were little things I saw along the way that put my heart down. Such was the case when I saw a few students who do not really appreciate or understand the fact that there were in university and have access to high quality learning resources. Seriously, if only you were very bright yet could not secure a place at a university and were out on the street, you would understand how a person like that would feel. There were others who didn’t have time to read or do independent research and just wanted all things to come from the lecturer. There were also others who were to lazy to even attempt assignments. Yet in each of these students, I did see a picture of myself when I was in university –someone who just wanted to be average and get out of here. Now as I sit and look back, the potential to do great things is just around the corner for these young Papua New Guineas. Iam in a privileged position because for 15 weeks I get to mould their minds and teach them how the world works not only in class but also out of the classroom too. Today’s student is much more equipped then those previously and has enough ability to go further then before and so much be encouraged to do so. I believe that it is also part of the lecturer’s duty to instill confidence in the student to seek out higher learning.
I think one of the greatest lessons, I have learnt these past 15 weeks, is to be true to yourself. If you do not know something or an idea or theory is beyond you, you need to acknowledge that in class, come back, do your research and then go back and tackle that issue or idea. It is no use pretending to know something you do not know. Be true to your students and peers because they deserve that respect.
Another thing I have learnt is to be creative in your teaching methodology. Most students hate being in the position where the lecturer talks all throughout the lesson and they have to listen. This process is painful for the student as his or her ability to gain knowledge is lost through frustration of not being able to participatein the learning process. I have been at fault in this case and the key for me is to think of different ways to teach ideas rather then just lecturing to the students.
Well I got another 15 more weeks next semester and Iam already looking forward to the challenge. I dread the workload but I guess I just have to prepare well and make sure I get all the unit outlines and resources ready. When the students arrive in July, it will be on again.
May 20, 2011
Media matters
I was really happy this week becasue I had some very important people come talk to my students about the media in PNG.
My students, who are in the final year of their program, have a unit called "Working with the Media' and were most fortunate to hear from public affairs officers from Oil Search Limited and the Mineral Resource Authority.
The speakers—Ms. Ruth Waram and Ms. Celestine Ove from Oil Search Limited and Mr. Kenneth Avira from Mineral Resource Authority, talked about their respective organizations and their roles in these organizations especially on how they dealt with the mass media.
The speakers—Ms. Ruth Waram and Ms. Celestine Ove from Oil Search Limited and Mr. Kenneth Avira from Mineral Resource Authority, talked about their respective organizations and their roles in these organizations especially on how they dealt with the mass media.
Even though they had come to attend the the 27th Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo held here on campus, they took time out to come talk to the students.
The students said they were pleased to hear from people who worked in the media industry and their experiences of dealing with journalists and the different media organisations in the country. Mr Avira and Ms Waram both worked for The National and Post Courier respectively before they joined their current organizations.
The students said they were pleased to hear from people who worked in the media industry and their experiences of dealing with journalists and the different media organisations in the country. Mr Avira and Ms Waram both worked for The National and Post Courier respectively before they joined their current organizations.
Pictures above show Mr. Avira (seated), Ms. Waram speaking to students while Ms. Ove (right) taking some pictures.
April 19, 2011
Eight women die each day in PNG through pregnancy and child birth complications
This was revealed by Ms. Jelilah Uniah who is the Program Manger of Pathfinder International at Divine Word University’s CHIDS forum in Madang a couple of weeks ago.
CHIDS which stands for Contemporary Health Issues and Development Strategies is a forum created by the Health Management Department of Divine Word University as a venue for partnership building and collaboration amongst service delivery organizations and development agencies in Madang province to address health and development issues that currently have an impact on PNG’s socioeconomic and development status.
The theme of the forum was 'Population control strategies: Realising Vision 2050 through Family Planning Approaches' and Ms. Uniah, being the guest speaker, presented a powerpoint slide highlighting this disturbing fact that high risk of maternal death still plagues women in Papua New Guinea.
She said: “Eight women die in PNG each day. In Madang District alone, 480 mothers have died last year with 12 mothers reported to have died at the Modilon General Hospital. What about those which are not reported?
“Most women in PNG don’t have access to family planning services meaning they don’t have access to contraceptives thus they have very little choice in regards to family planning. “Even if they have access to the contraceptive, the church, relatives or even husband refuse its use.
“Because of this, they have unplanned pregnancies and this puts them at great risk of death pregnancy and childbirth complications.
She also called on the Government to fund family planning programs in the country saying that i the government was serious about acheiving MDGs and Vision 2050, they had to fund this vital area of health.
I thought about what she said about mothers dying when trying to give birth and know that this is one of the great tragedies of our country. Statistics are just numbers but for every mother that dies there is another child that will go through life without another parent. I have witnessed a mother giving birth on the side of the main road in Lae, I have seen government maternity wards that have holes on the floor, I have seen two women loose their newborn in the space of just a few hours just becasue there is no gynacologist available at this major referral hospital and I know that it is common throught this country that women give birth on the floor in public hospitals in this country. What a sad scenario we have in this great country of ours!
Family Planning approaches, whatever opinion someone may have of it, has its merits and can surely save lives.
Pregnancy and childbirth are a time for great joy, reflection and happiness but this public health issue contiunues to put us all into misery.
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