Following a critical shortage on respiratory equipment at Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital in Morobe province, patients with breathing difficulties can now receive the lifesaving assistance following the arrival of 36 portable ventilators. 

The new machines will be deployed in areas where patients are most likely to need urgent respiratory support, including the emergency department, intensive care unit, nursery, and acute medical and surgical wards.

Designed for patients who cannot breathe sufficiently without assistance, Morobe Provincial Health Authority Director of Medical Services Dr. Steven James said the equipment would give clinical teams greater capacity to care for seriously ill patients.

Dr. James said some of the equipment could also be made available to district hospitals when required, thus this would allow health workers to provide emergency breathing support outside of Lae as well.

However, these new machines also bring a responsibility to protect the investment. Dr. James stated that staff needed to understand how to operate the ventilators, while servicing and maintenance would be essential to keeping them in working condition.

“The person using the machine must understand how to operate it properly.”

The ventilators were provided by the Australian Government and are valued at about K1.8 million.

Meanwhile, Australian Consul-General to Momase Brenton Kanowski, said the equipment would strengthen the ability of Angau staff to save lives. 

The ventilators were sourced through Australian charity Save Our Supplies in Brisbane and transported to Papua New Guinea on an Australian Navy ship.

He added that Australia’s support for health services in Morobe extends beyond the equipment, with further redevelopment of Angau hospital planned.

For Angau, the challenge now is to put the ventilators into service and ensure they remain available when the next critically ill patient needs help to breathe.