St John Ambulance today opened its new Ambulance Station at Baruni with the aim to serve a population of around 30, 000 people in the surrounding Motu Koita villages as well as the whole Moresby North West electorate.
The service was made possible with the assistance of Papua New Guinea Construction Realty (PNGCR) in allocating a space and doing the facility set up for St John to operate in.
Moresby Northwest MP Lohia Boe Samuel also showed his commitment in the initiative making available K200, 000 for the purchase of two St John ambulance vehicles to beef up the capacity.
Speaking during the opening, Mr Samuel thanked St John for the important service and said the Ambulance Station will allow them to improve their response time to cases that are called in within the proximity of the location.
The nearest health facility to cater for the sick and injured will be the Gerehu General Hospital.
“The opening of this Ambulance Station will see better access to emergency pre-hospital care for my people in Baruni, Koukou, Gabi, Mirigini, Hanuabada, Elevala and the greater Moresby North West,” Mr Boe Samuel said.
“In 2020, St John Ambulance attended to 3, 781 incidents in the Moresby North West electorate.”
“On behalf of the people of Moresby North West and Motu Koita, I thank St John for providing such a vital service,” said the Moresby North West member.
St John Ambulance Commissioner and Director Rigona Rita thanked PNGCR and the local MP for their assistance in making possible the ambulance station a reality.