By Joe Paraide
The East New Britain Queensland Community Inc, an association based in Australia, has donated medical and educational materials to hospitals and schools in the province.
The organisation is made up of members of the East New Britain (Tolai) community who reside in Australia. They have been taking the initiative to help communities in ENB for the past years.
The non-profit organisation was founded in 2017. Most of its 300 members live in Queensland while others in the other Australian states and also in PNG.
Every year the organisation brings in a container full of requested equipments and materials to distribute among schools and clinics in ENB. Sixteen members of the association were in Kokopo for unloading the container last week at the Vunamami United Church ground.
The container consist 40 boxes which contain 2000 reading glasses, 24 beds with mattress, 430 maternity packs, books, desks and other stationeries.
All the eye glasses are multi focal and to receive one, people have to go through a test at the Callan services, Vunapope eye centre and at Nonga Provincial Hospital.
Two hundred of the maternity packs have been delivered to mothers at Nonga Provincial Hospital, and St Mary’s Vunapope Hospital.
Ten beds were given to Vunapope while 14 were distributed among health centers with electricity like Kerevat and Napapar.
According to ENB Queensland Community Inc President Elsie Baining, the cost of health equipment is expensive and the government spending is always focused on some parts of the country while others are neglected.
“Schools and Hospitals still lack resources and they have needs. We are trying to breach the gap and fill in for what the government has not provided by giving back to the communities with the little we have,” Ms Baining said.
She said they usually raised funds through their major fundraising which is the Guria Gala in every September and a Mumu Aigir throughout the year.
Tanaka Primary School head teacher Sero Kuki said they have received library books, stationery, single desks and other curriculum materials from the association.
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