Page 9 - Rotary Matters - October 2021

PNG Midwives gain a container of essential supplies from RC Morialta

In recent weeks, RC Morialta, with assistance of Rotary Donations in Kind and Adelaide University
Rotaract collected and packed the equipment into a 40-foot shipping container. This initiative was in
addition to the Clubs’ PNG Midwifery Buddy Leadership project and at the request of midwifery leaders
within PNG Midwives Society who provided a detailed lists of items needed. Many of the items were
available from DIK and other items were donated by S.A. midwives and medical professionals. In great
community spirit, Rotarians, family and friends in Adelaide knitted baby clothes and beanies and sewed
baby blankets. Some of the items such as digital thermometers and stethoscopes were purchased by
the Club. The result is that many hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment and supplies,
at replacement value, has been matched to actual needs.

An additional challenge was the skyrocketing shipping costs and exorbitant demurrage charges if there
was any delay in unpacking the container in PNG. We were advised to purchase a “last use” 40-foot
container which could be delivered to the hospital and provide safe storage while they sort and allocate
the equipment within the hospital. Our partner club for this project, RC Port Moresby, arranged customs
clearance and in consultation with the PNG Midwives, will donate the container to a worthy cause
afterwards.

Shipping prices are skyrocketing due to COVID disruptions. DIK were able to negotiate a reasonable price
for purchasing the container and shipping to Port Moresby. Our total cost, including the container, is
approximately $16000. Funding, in addition to our District and Global Grants, for this initiative and the PNG
project, has been very much assisted with donations from individuals, other Rotary clubs and the Women
in Rotary, International Women’s Day breakfast event.

Jennifer Pyakalyia, President of the PNG Midwives Society wrote, ’You and your team is such a team which
is very much appreciated by all. God will continue to bless you all’.

In a message from Jane Menke, one of our Australian PNG Project buddies seconded
by the Australian Government said, ‘There is still much to do in PNG as you know –
but there are amazing PNG midwives there doing fabulous work in the most
challenging circumstances – I am humbled by just walking beside then for this little
time I was privileged to be there’.

Judi Brown and Peter Mayer

Packing container at
Donations in Kind

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