The YWAM Medical Ship Ministry is playing a vital role in delivering integrated outreach health services to some of Madang Province’s most isolated communities, according to Madang Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Martin Daimen.
Dr. Daimen said the YWAM medical ship is specifically designed to reach remote coastal areas, islands and atolls, and at times even extend into inland communities where normal government health services often struggle to reach.
He described the ministry’s work as more than just medical intervention, noting that it combines physical healthcare with mental health and spiritual support.
“Our health system is largely designed to focus on the physical aspect of a person,” Dr. Daimen said. “But the human being is made up of the body, the soul and the spirit. To achieve true rehabilitation and restoration, we must consider the whole person.”
Dr. Daimen explained that while the formal health system concentrates primarily on physical treatment, services such as mental health care and chaplaincy are essential components in delivering holistic or whole-person healthcare.
He said the work of the YWAM Medical Ship should be viewed as an extended arm of the province’s health system, helping to fill service gaps in hard-to-reach areas.
“The ownership is upon us as health authorities to reach out and invite them,” he said. “They can tell us what services they offer, and we can share our priority areas and challenges. From there, we can agree on priorities and work collaboratively to achieve results.”
The Madang PHA is currently working closely with the YWAM team to deliver services to isolated coastal communities, islands and atolls across the province. One model of care that local health authorities can learn from, Dr. Daimen added, is the mobile clinic system used onboard the ship.
He encouraged other districts and health facilities to engage with the YWAM team to better understand the services they provide and how they can complement existing government health programs.
“Please invite them to your location or visit them and find out what services they can offer to help fill the gaps in our health system,” Dr. Daimen said.
