In the month of July, Gulf and EHP governments both formally appointed the PNG St John Ambulance, a PNG civil defense organization, to operate its emergency ambulance service in the province.
This marks the 8th province to appoint St John with this imperative role. Plans and discussions are underway for East Sepik, Madang and Western Highlands Provinces to also engage such a vital emergency service for its people.
These partnerships will ensure integrated emergency services will be available in the provinces, ensuring swift and effective emergency response for the people.
Last year St John attended to 21,500 emergency cases and that’s from the ambulance stations in Port Moresby, Lae, Kokopo, Kundiawa and the substations of Kupiano and Bereina in Central.
With the new partnerships, more people will be reached. One of the great benefits of St John is St John’s fundraising.
This year, the ambulance service expects to fundraise around K6m which is in addition to any grants from the government to the ambulance service.
This vital fundraising is achieved in a couple of ways. Donations from individuals and businesses are one. Another is the first aid training that workplaces engage St John to provide, along with the first aid kits and equipment businesses buy from St John.
All these come together to ensure vital funds can be raised which benefit services for the public.
As an entirely not-for-profit Papua New Guinean emergency service charity, every toea raised is used to benefit people and ensure entirely free services for the vulnerable and those most in need.
St John welcomes partnerships with the provincial administrations to establish ambulance stations and substations making emergency medical services accessible to the people and strengthening the prehospital care system.