The We Are One Foundation (WAO), the charitable arm of Islands Petroleum, has stepped forward to assist Warangoi Rural Hospital by donating six 200-watt solar spotlights to help restore reliable lighting to the facility.
Like many other rural health centers across the country, Warangoi’s operations are frequently hampered by constant power outages and a lack of sufficient funding to maintain a consistent backup generator.
These new solar lights will serve as essential security lighting and provide illumination for both the interior and exterior of the hospital buildings, offering much-needed relief to the facility’s aging 15-year-old generator.
This intervention ensures that both staff and patients can feel safer within the grounds rather than being left in total darkness during power failures.
WAO Coordinator Nicole Kamara, presented the donation to the hospital’s Medical Officer, Dr. Micah Misivet, noting that the foundation was pleased the hospital reached out for assistance.
“We are pleased to present these six, 200-watt solar spotlights to Warangoi Rural Hospital.”
“The hospital is in great need of a reliable and constant power supply, and addressing such a need will go a long way in working in partnership to support health services.”
While Warangoi Rural Hospital was not originally included in the foundation’s planned donation cycle, the urgency and legitimacy of their request moved the foundation to act.
The hospital serves a catchment population of nearly 18,000 people, drawing patients from the Gazelle and Rabaul districts.
This high demand often exceeds the resources available to the facility.
Despite these ongoing challenges, Dr. Misivet expressed deep gratitude for the unexpected support from WAO.
Upon receiving the lights, Dr. Misivet remarked, “We are grateful to WAO to be privileged enough to be part of the donations despite initially not being a beneficiary.”
“We have faced a lot of challenges, but we have learned to forego talking about the problems; rather, we are looking at solutions.”
Looking ahead, the hospital management hopes that the four aid posts under their direct care might eventually receive similar donations to improve their own service delivery.
