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.
July 30, 2011
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.
March 08, 2011
Some views on the PNG Health Care System
A news story by Mr. Henry Nayam and Ms. Winsome Nenewa who are fourth year Health Management Students in Divine Word University.
The PNG National Government recently passed the 2011 National Budget with a record spending total of K9 billion. The Government’s highest priority is implementing the new Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2011 -2015, which will underpin the achievement of the objectives set out in the PNG Development Strategic Plan (DSP) 2010-2030, and PNGVision 2050.
According to the National Health Budget for 2011, Volume 1, in the Development Appropriations for Primary and Preventative Health 2005-2011, the Health Department received K274 million in 2010 and in 2011 this amount will increase to K311 million.
So, what does this mean for our hospitals, health centres, rural hospitals and the people who go to get services from them? Does this money really translate to improved health services? Is the country’s health status improving? Well, we asked some of the students in the DWU campus to gather their views on how they see the country’s health status.
Name: Susan Simeon (HM4)
Our country’s health status is deteriorating slowly due to the health budget being mostly spent on the health care rather being spent on the population’s health.
Name: Peter Lanovene (PG1)
The health status is the deteriorating because I have been to the hospitals and I saw that there is shortage of medical supplies and no improvement in the health facilities.
Name: Natasha Lagani (BS2)
It is slowly improving because there is a lot of awareness from the Health Department on concerning health issues but there is still need for more improvement.
Name: Sis. Marceline Pokah (SRS2)
I think that the country’s health status is stagnant for the past years. The main issue for no changes is that the people in the community do not participate in improving their health or health programs.
Name: Malakai Thomas (BS2)
From my opinion the health status is very low, comparing with the other countries. At most hospitals, more patients are waiting longer hours to be treated and sometimes are not treated well. The government has to provide more funds to the Health Department.
Name: Ellison Toriki (Jnr) (EH4)
The health status of the country is badly deteriorating, because most people do not have excess to the basic health services especially in the rural areas. My question is who is to be blame, the government or the health system?
Name: Dr. Clement Manineng
There are two parts of the PNG Health service – private and public. The private health service is a booming industry while the public health service continues to decline due to a gross mismatch between rapid population growth and the inability of the Government health machinery to sustain it.
The National Government has made a commitment to fund the PNG National Health Plan with total cost of K14.7 billion over the 10 year period from 2011-2010…..We all hope that this plan will be well funded by the Government and it, in turn, translates to real health services that reach all Papua New Guineans.
The PNG National Government recently passed the 2011 National Budget with a record spending total of K9 billion. The Government’s highest priority is implementing the new Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2011 -2015, which will underpin the achievement of the objectives set out in the PNG Development Strategic Plan (DSP) 2010-2030, and PNGVision 2050.
According to the National Health Budget for 2011, Volume 1, in the Development Appropriations for Primary and Preventative Health 2005-2011, the Health Department received K274 million in 2010 and in 2011 this amount will increase to K311 million.
So, what does this mean for our hospitals, health centres, rural hospitals and the people who go to get services from them? Does this money really translate to improved health services? Is the country’s health status improving? Well, we asked some of the students in the DWU campus to gather their views on how they see the country’s health status.
Name: Susan Simeon (HM4)
Our country’s health status is deteriorating slowly due to the health budget being mostly spent on the health care rather being spent on the population’s health.
Name: Peter Lanovene (PG1)
The health status is the deteriorating because I have been to the hospitals and I saw that there is shortage of medical supplies and no improvement in the health facilities.
Name: Natasha Lagani (BS2)
It is slowly improving because there is a lot of awareness from the Health Department on concerning health issues but there is still need for more improvement.
Name: Sis. Marceline Pokah (SRS2)
I think that the country’s health status is stagnant for the past years. The main issue for no changes is that the people in the community do not participate in improving their health or health programs.
Name: Malakai Thomas (BS2)
From my opinion the health status is very low, comparing with the other countries. At most hospitals, more patients are waiting longer hours to be treated and sometimes are not treated well. The government has to provide more funds to the Health Department.
Name: Ellison Toriki (Jnr) (EH4)
The health status of the country is badly deteriorating, because most people do not have excess to the basic health services especially in the rural areas. My question is who is to be blame, the government or the health system?
Name: Dr. Clement Manineng
There are two parts of the PNG Health service – private and public. The private health service is a booming industry while the public health service continues to decline due to a gross mismatch between rapid population growth and the inability of the Government health machinery to sustain it.
The National Government has made a commitment to fund the PNG National Health Plan with total cost of K14.7 billion over the 10 year period from 2011-2010…..We all hope that this plan will be well funded by the Government and it, in turn, translates to real health services that reach all Papua New Guineans.
February 08, 2011
HIV em stap!
Statistics from 2008 show that PNG has over 25,000 people who are now living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
This was revealed by the Provincial Program Co-ordinator for Madang Provincial AIDS office, Mr. Conrad Wadunah during the Divine Word University students orientation week at the SVD Auditorium yesterday.
Mr. Wadunah told the first year students that the latest statistics from the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS) which are from the year 2008 showed that HIV/AIDS had over 25,000 people with HIV/AIDS.
He said: “The highest reported cases are found in Western Highlands and the National Capital District. This does not mean that HIV is more prevalent there but because more people in this two provinces are going for tests using Voluntary Counseling and Testing.
“Madang has over 310 PLWHA’s and if you have young people as such one reported case of a 9 years old girl in Madang having sex and other reported case of a girl as young as 13 year old giving birth, then you have to see that HIV is a problem that does not discriminate age and gender.”
Mr. Wadunah urged the news students to be proactive in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the province and one way of doing that was to join and take part in the National HIV/AIDS debate among tertiary institutions that will be taking place later in the year.
Mr. Joe Mocke, who is a senior project officer with the Tingim Laif project in Madang highlighted at the same meeting with students, that statistics from the NACS showed a trend where girls and women in the country aged between 15-39 years old acquired HIV/AIDS while the men in the age group of 40 -60 years old acquired HIV/AIDS.
He said:” This points out that men who were much older were going around with young women who wanted material needs that could be met by the older men.
“Please young people, you are now in university so you must understand that HIV/AIDS is a problem that does not look for you but you look for it meaning that if you take care of yourself then you do not have to worry about HIV/AIDS”.
Mr. Mocke said the Tingim Laif project aims to reduce the vulnerability of HIV/AIDS in communities or settings throughout the country with over 36 project sites around the country.
Top: students listen while Mr. Wadunah and Mr Mocke give their talk.
This was revealed by the Provincial Program Co-ordinator for Madang Provincial AIDS office, Mr. Conrad Wadunah during the Divine Word University students orientation week at the SVD Auditorium yesterday.
Mr. Wadunah told the first year students that the latest statistics from the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS) which are from the year 2008 showed that HIV/AIDS had over 25,000 people with HIV/AIDS.
He said: “The highest reported cases are found in Western Highlands and the National Capital District. This does not mean that HIV is more prevalent there but because more people in this two provinces are going for tests using Voluntary Counseling and Testing.
“Madang has over 310 PLWHA’s and if you have young people as such one reported case of a 9 years old girl in Madang having sex and other reported case of a girl as young as 13 year old giving birth, then you have to see that HIV is a problem that does not discriminate age and gender.”
Mr. Wadunah urged the news students to be proactive in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the province and one way of doing that was to join and take part in the National HIV/AIDS debate among tertiary institutions that will be taking place later in the year.
Mr. Joe Mocke, who is a senior project officer with the Tingim Laif project in Madang highlighted at the same meeting with students, that statistics from the NACS showed a trend where girls and women in the country aged between 15-39 years old acquired HIV/AIDS while the men in the age group of 40 -60 years old acquired HIV/AIDS.
He said:” This points out that men who were much older were going around with young women who wanted material needs that could be met by the older men.
“Please young people, you are now in university so you must understand that HIV/AIDS is a problem that does not look for you but you look for it meaning that if you take care of yourself then you do not have to worry about HIV/AIDS”.
Mr. Mocke said the Tingim Laif project aims to reduce the vulnerability of HIV/AIDS in communities or settings throughout the country with over 36 project sites around the country.
Top: students listen while Mr. Wadunah and Mr Mocke give their talk.
January 30, 2011
'Sic currite ut comprehendatis'
Sic currite ut comprehenditis has been the motto every graduate of Divine Word University keeps in mind when they think of their days in Diwai. Yes DWU has grown so rapidly in the last five years that if one who is a graduate of this school were to come back, he or she would be surprised at the developments that have taken place. Gone are the 'karanas' roads and buai markets and in its place are brick roads and a mini supermarket with ATMs.
Despite the small size of the campus, I think DWU has collectively strived to complete higher education learning with the changes in gobal technology. Buildings have also sprung up from places which were once open spaces and students given laptops for personal learning. However, one of the most important things i think most former students would agree on, is the 'Diwai Spirit' - a common bond of lifelong friendships, luksave long save pes and comraderie. Okay gees, i feel like Im writing a public relations script here so i'll stop now and put up some photos of the DWU campus in Madang now.
For those of you who have not visited the school during the last few years, here are some latest buildings and offices....
The famous pikus tree next near the library
The front of the DWU library
The new DWU school bus
The student servcies office which is now next the admin building
The front of the admin building
The road leading to the main gate. On the right side is the Library building.
The Flexible Learning Centre
The Postgraduate and Research Centre
The new Bell Tower next to the chapel
The Physiotheraphy Research and Rehabilitation centre
The new mini-mart building which also has BSP and ANZ Automatic Telemachines (ATM) outlets
The boys dorm (Feehan Hall)
The SVD Auditorium
Road leading to Mechanic workshop
The Mathematics and Computer Science building
The middle of the classrooms on a dull Sunday morning
Despite the small size of the campus, I think DWU has collectively strived to complete higher education learning with the changes in gobal technology. Buildings have also sprung up from places which were once open spaces and students given laptops for personal learning. However, one of the most important things i think most former students would agree on, is the 'Diwai Spirit' - a common bond of lifelong friendships, luksave long save pes and comraderie. Okay gees, i feel like Im writing a public relations script here so i'll stop now and put up some photos of the DWU campus in Madang now.
For those of you who have not visited the school during the last few years, here are some latest buildings and offices....
The ITS office looks after all things related to IT
Global Travel which is responsible for all airline ticketing and bookings for DWU staff and students
The famous pikus tree next near the library
The front of the DWU library
The new DWU school bus
The student servcies office which is now next the admin building
The front of the admin building
The road leading to the main gate. On the right side is the Library building.
The Flexible Learning Centre
The Postgraduate and Research Centre
The new Bell Tower next to the chapel
The Physiotheraphy Research and Rehabilitation centre
The new mini-mart building which also has BSP and ANZ Automatic Telemachines (ATM) outlets
The boys dorm (Feehan Hall)
The SVD Auditorium
Road leading to Mechanic workshop
The Mathematics and Computer Science building
The middle of the classrooms on a dull Sunday morning
ends///
January 19, 2011
The road less travelled
Sometimes people take a road less travelled because they believe that it is the the true way. Once they firmly believe in their heart that this road is true, they make a decision and they will never turn back.
This words ring true for a couple known as John Mula Namun and Itong 'Zipporah' Mula who decided a long time ago to follow the Lord and have never turned back. The left everything behind and came home to Liap village, a tiny village on the northern coastline of Manus Island in PNG to somehow share their newfound love. It has never been easy for them but i can say that Iam forever grateful that they are follwing this road less travelled.
The started a ministry called 'Kingdom Breakthrough Ministry International' and have been ministering to the people of the Kurti language group ever since. They have travelled to villages in Kurti such as Liap, Derimbat, Lomei, Sou-uh, Kari, Patlok, Wamandra, Pundru and to other villages in other electorates such as Burlondrau, Lowa and Pitiluh.
I recently made a video of KBMI and posted it on youtube. Here is the link below:
This words ring true for a couple known as John Mula Namun and Itong 'Zipporah' Mula who decided a long time ago to follow the Lord and have never turned back. The left everything behind and came home to Liap village, a tiny village on the northern coastline of Manus Island in PNG to somehow share their newfound love. It has never been easy for them but i can say that Iam forever grateful that they are follwing this road less travelled.
The started a ministry called 'Kingdom Breakthrough Ministry International' and have been ministering to the people of the Kurti language group ever since. They have travelled to villages in Kurti such as Liap, Derimbat, Lomei, Sou-uh, Kari, Patlok, Wamandra, Pundru and to other villages in other electorates such as Burlondrau, Lowa and Pitiluh.
I recently made a video of KBMI and posted it on youtube. Here is the link below:
November 25, 2010
Sunrise in Madang
Took this photo of Madang town habour early in the morning.
Isnt the place just beautiful....!
Isnt the place just beautiful....!
November 16, 2010
Adolescent Smoking in PNG
Papua New Guninea, like so many countries in the world today face growing numbers of adolescents who take up tobacco smoking
But why should we be concerned? Well the World Health Organisation reports that the use of tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world with more than 5 million people worldwide dying from tobacco use annually (WHO 2009a). It also says that the burden of tobacco use is greatest in low and middle-income countries and is predicted that, if very little is done to curb tobacco use and current trends continue, tobacco use will kill more than 8 million people worldwide each year by the year 2030, with 80% of these premature deaths in low-and middle-income countries (WHO 2009a; Anderson Johnson et al. 2006; Devlin, Eadie, and Angus 2003).
According to the PNG National Statistics Office, from the 1990 Census, the projected number of young people in 2010 would stand at 1,243,138 who are aged between 10-19 years old and they would make up 22.6% of the total population (NSO 2004). So this means that 2 out of every 10 people in PNG today, is aged between 10-19 years old. This age group of young people are at a time of transition from childhood to adulthood and are most vulnerable to developing smoking habits that lead up to adulthood (Mitchell, Rosenberg, and Wood 2008).
As experienced in other countries, adolescents in Papua New Guinea can be vulnerable to the tobacco use due to factors such as stress (Byrne, Byrne, and Reinhart 1995; Anderson Johnson et al. 2006), sensation seeking (Urban 2010), experimentation, peer use and peer perception (Krisjansson et al. 2010) or even with parents smoking (Melchior et al. 2010; Hiawalyer 2002).
• Prevalence of tobacco use
Although there has been little done to find the prevalence of tobacco smoking among this age group of 10-19 year olds in Papua New Guinea, WHO statistics show 43.8 percent of young people in PNG aged 13 to 15 years old were reported to ‘currently smoke tobacco products’ (WHO 2009d) and in that same age group, the current cigarette use prevalence among boys which is 52.1%, is considered as the highest in the Western Pacific Region (CDCP 2008).
A significant research which was carried out by Gilbert Hiawalyer from the National Health Department, exemplified the grave situation on tobacco’s impact on adolescents in the country. His research on 3,000 young people aged 8-20 years in Manus and Central province showed that young children, as young as 8 years of age had began smoking. He also found that out of the 2000 adolescents in NCD, the capital city of PNG, only 10% of the males and 37% of the females were non smokers and proportionally, there was an average of two male smokers to one female smoker (Hiawalyer 2002).
Table 1 Smoking prevalence by age group
In Manus province, which is the smallest province in PNG in terms of population and land area, Hiawalyer found that of the 1,000 boys and girls he interviewed, 5% of the males and 40% of the females were non-smokers. From 2,245 smokers, he also found that the number of smokers increased with age. This, he described, was that as he moved higher in the grade levels, the number of smoker also began to increase. His study also found that smokers were influenced by their friends, parents and the media respectively (Hiawalyer 2002).
Table 2 Factors influencing smokers to smoke
• Tobacco Uptake Factors
The Global Youth Tobacco Survey, which is a school based survey aimed at finding data on smoking among 13-15 years olds, indicates that the environment is a significant factor in young people’s uptake of tobacco products (CDCP 2007) and adolescents in PNG are no exception (Hiawalyer 2002). The environment may include family and social support networks who can influence adolescents’ smoking uptake (Mermelstein 2003).
For example, Onguglo, Gabuogi and Varip (2010) found that although 49.5% of the 200 students in Madang five primary schools indicated in a questionnaire that they knew that smoking caused lung cancer, 53% of total students who smoked said they did so because of peer pressure.
The home where a family lives can also influence smoking habits (Betson et al. 1995; Krisjansson et al. 2010). The GYTS done in PNG in 2007 also show that 73.9% of young people aged 13-15 years old are exposed to smoke at home (WHO 2009c) and Hiawalyer found that adolescents in NCD (34%) and Manus (39%) smoked because their parents did so at home (Hiawalyer 2002).
The low cost of tobacco products in Papua New Guinea is also a factor for adolescent up take of tobacco (PNGMOH 2004). An example of this would be the smoking of the ‘roll your own’ (RYO) tobacco that is being sold on almost every street corner. The situation in PNG, as in Malaysia and Thailand, the ‘Roll your own’ tobacco use is associated with living in rural areas, older average age, lower level of education, male gender, not being in paid work, slightly lower consumption of cigarettes, higher social acceptability of smoking, and positive attitudes toward tobacco regulation (Young et al. 2008). This also holds true for the PNG situation but the RYO cigarette has significantly increased in urban areas and has popular among adolescents that are in school or out of school and do not work (Lipset 2005).
This is because it is the cheapest of all tobacco products in this country as it is home grown and sold locally (FCTC Convention Secretariat 2010). It costs 10t (5 Australian cents) for one stick, isn’t taxed and carries no health warning (FCTC Convention Secretariat 2010).
Another example of cheap tobacco products would be that of the practise of selling loose cigarettes. Factory made cigarettes that come in packs of 20 that cost K11.40 are sold individually at roadside markets for 70 toea. This practise of buying single or loose cigarettes is cheaper than paying for a whole pack of 20s and young people can easily afford this factory made cigarettes for a fraction of the total price.
.........In my next post, I will highlight what WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) means to PNG and how we can do to minimise smoking rates among adolescents.
November 01, 2010
Learning about patience...
Im a really proud parent of a six week old girl. I love her to bits and wouldn’t trade her for zillion bucks! But I make this statement because just six weeks into having sleepless nights, im beginning to form the conclusion that if you want to be a good parent to a child, you have to be really, really patient.
Why do I say this? Well she cant talk but only feeds and sleep but if she cries, you have to figure out why. Is she hungry? Is she too hot? Is the breeze too cold? Is she too full from feeding? These and many more are things both parents have to figure out. Its is good that as we go along this journey of parenthood, you get to learn of the signs..if she is awake and too quiet, she is doing the toilet thingy; if she squirms a lot, then she may want to be washed or carried around…You have to be patient enough to go through the guess work and learn quickly what she likes best. For the past weeks, she has been keeping us awake late at night. We take turns checking on her and carrying her. You have to have patience to want to do this over a long period of time...lol...look at me, just six weeks into it and i think i've mastered parenthood...LOL. Im learning all this as i go along this journey too like so many others before me and many more after me...
I believe that parenting starts at birth but never ends. It is a life long relationship with someone you have brought into this world. They grow from an infant to toddler to young childhood to adolescents. In that time, you as a parent will be a central figure in their life. You will teach them what is wrong and what is right. You will teach them why certain things are so in society and how we should approach situations in life. We draw from our own experiences, social exchanges, cultures, formal education etc to form a structure of learning and discipline for them. In order to be better parent, you have to draw up all this and be patient enough to train them and to encourage them to live purposeful lives.
But here comes the most important part about parenting….you will love it! I have loved holding this fragile human being; I have loved squeezing her rosy cheeks and playful feet. I have loved it when she smiles and you can see the gums shining…hahahaha..She is definitely the best thing that has happened to me and I plan to enjoy being her father for a long time more!
October 26, 2010
The Masuros
The last time i bought a CHM cassette was a 'Demas Saul' album at CHM Kokopo in 2001. The reason: well it was mostly because i missed Madang so much after completing my 2nd year at DWU Madang...
Well this afternoon, close to nine years later, i bought another CHM cassette. This time it was cassette titled ' the Masuro's ' from the Madang Christian Book Store. They had recorded under the CHM label in Port Moresby. I had listened to one of their songs called 'Hobi Hobi' two weeks ago while was inside the store. I waited until i had some coins, which was like today, and then went to buy it. It wasnt cheap at K17.00 but hey, somehow i just wanted to have that cassette. The Masuros are a family gospel group from Garaina in the hinterlands of Morobe Province and were formed in 2002.
Having just listened to it now im impressed by the Donna Masuro, the lead vocalist. The musical arrangement is simple and the vocals are outstanding. The song 'Lovely Lord' is a song I've heard a long long time ago in my high school days by an American band called 'Petra' and it was good to hear it again. The other songs 'Hamamas long haus' , ' Hearts' , ' Hokeetemi ' and ' Gates ' are simple songs but Donna's voice makes it easy on the ears. The song 'Hobi hobi' is still my favourite and is sung in Pidgin and Garaina.
If you have the chance to, please buy their cassette becasue im sure you will really enjoy listening this lovely album.
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