April 2012 Ship News Update

Medical Ships - Australia

news updateApril 2012 edition

G’day from KenHave you ever felt like giving up, you’ve had enough, it’s just too hard! There’s little hope for many people in the very isolated villages we assist in PNG. In less than one month our ship will sail back to PNG! There are so many individuals of great quality that only need a boost of confidence, care, or knowledge in order to move in the direction they want to go. It’s not only great that the volunteers on-board the ship can be that catalyst for the people of PNG, but that the people in PNG themselves can also be that catalyst for many of our volunteers. We are on this journey together and are eager to share more and more as the years go on!

www.ywamships.org.au

Ken Mulligan - CEO YWAM Medical Ships - Australia

As the lights dimmed in the auditorium of the YWAM Townsville centre, anticipation was in the air. Forty students from six different North Queensland schools came together at the Newspapers In Education (NIE) Leadership Conference, to learn and be challenged in how they can make a difference, sponsored by the Townsville Bulletin.

Pacific Island dance group, Proper Way, kicked off the morning with an inspiring Samoan dance, brewing excitement among the students and teachers for the day. YWAM MSA Medical Coordinator, Hannah Peart, shared her story of overcoming challenges in her own life in order to get to where she is now, using her passion for medical care to help others.

Two 30-minute workshops helped equip the students to work in team and to use tools relevant to their generation. Action plans were made for events that would advocate for different issues facing their schools, communities, and even the world. Social media and communication were discussed as crucial tools available to the students, and that knowing how to use them effectively is equally as important, if not more. Following the conference, one student was excited to start using what she learned, saying: “Being here today has given us the momentum to chase what we believe is going to impact the greater community and even the rest of the world, if we so desire.” They will be, and are already, world changers indeed!

What Can You Do to Change the World?

Education, challenge, and inspiration... all a part of the NIE Leadership Conference!

It was the last day of outreach for the Introductory Primary Health Care (IPHC) team when five-year-old Tony came to see them on his own. He was aware that the team was in his village, and when boiling water accidentally spilled onto his body, he knew he needed to find them for help. “He found us right after it happened; we knew because his burns hadn’t even started blistering,” said team member, Dexter Bird. “Through the translator, we found out that he had been cooking himself a meal because his mother was unable and his father was gone.” He had no one to help him and that’s when the boiling water spilled. The burns covered the skin between his lower abdomen and upper thighs, and the second layer of skin had already begun coming off in some areas. Tony was in danger of dehydration and hypothermia and ran a high risk of infection as well. Without the team being in the village, his chances of dying were extremely high. That morning, the team hadn’t even set up their clinic, but had taken the morning off to pack their things and prepare to leave the village. They were about to leave when Tony showed up at their door.

Team leader, Casey Unruh, began treating Tony’s burns. “It was so numb that he could not feel the pain. He wasn’t even crying when he came to us,” she recalled with compassion in her eyes.

“We did what we could, giving initial care, then took him to a health centre in a nearby village, Malalaua, for recovery,” Casey said. The team had already been planning on traveling the 30 minutes to Malalaua on their way back to Port Moresby. Had that not been the case, they wouldn’t have been able to take Tony to the health centre. Circumstances could have been much more grim, but the health care team was in Tony’s village at the perfect time.

Thanking our Partners:

Boy Finds YWAM Health Care Team Just In Time

Outreach #: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

For more information:Address: PO Box 1959 Townsville QLD 4810 AustraliaPhone: +61 7 4771 2123 Fax: +61 7 4772 44144Email: [email protected] Web: www.ywamships.org.au

Medical Professionals

Little Tony after having his burns wrapped.

The ship sails at the end of the month...

Register online today!www.ywamships.org.au

2012 Outreach Needs:

Saweta village gets some laughs as the YWAM team that recently visited their village perform a funny skit!

Every child from Ulado village was able to receive a toothbrush from a YWAM team that recently visited the Western Province.

Midwives 1 1 1Doctors 1 2 2 2 1Nurses 1 1 2Dentists 1 2 2 2Ophthalmic Scrub Nurses

2

Physiotherapists 1 1 1 1Dental Hygienists/Assistants

2 2 2

Optometrists 1 1Orthoptists 1 1

Captain 1 1 1Chief Engineer1st Mate 1 1 12nd MateChief Steward 1 1 1 1

Marine Professionals

Outreach #: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7