MAF’s amphibious Cessna Caravan was already at Boboa, on the waters of Lake Murray, when the call came through to bring a pregnant woman to hospital for emergency treatment. Sadly, the baby could not be saved but the mother received life-saving care.
Story by Aquila Matit
“Everything happened so quickly,” said Gensy Deisi, from the small community of Boboa, on the shores of Lake Murray, in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province.
“With the floatplane, we were already in Kiunga, heading to the hospital.”
Shimbil Deisi, Gensy’s younger sister and a mother of two, was referred to the nearest hospital in Kiunga, due to difficulties in delivering her baby.
Gensy, who travelled on the floatplane with Shimbil as her guardian, knows the challenges pregnant women face when giving birth in this region.
“Some of our women face similar situations,” she said.
“Those in faraway communities have to travel long distances by canoe or boat just to access the health centre at Boboa station.
“Some of them give birth on the way, while others do not make it.
“These women travel in pain,” she said.
“At the health centre, when there is nothing more that can be done, it is either the mother or the child that dies. In our case, we were fortunate that the floatplane was in the area.”
Dr Supa Tawon, the SDP Aerial Health Patrol Medical officer who examined Shimbil, immediately requested a medevac upon referral.
“As soon as she arrived, we took her through the delivery process. However, without sufficient support, referral was the best option. I contacted our SDP team, and they contacted the MAF bookings team,” said Dr Tawon.
The MAF amphibious aircraft and team responded to the situation.
“We were in the area when we received a call from the MAF bookings team,” said MAF pilot Chad Tilley.
“They had arranged a medevac for us at our current location because they could see us on our tracking system.
“We just waited on the water for the medical patient, and when the patient arrived, within 24 minutes they were in Kiunga and on their way to the hospital.”
“We made it to Kiunga and the hospital on time,” said Gensy.
We made it to Kiunga and the hospital on time. Now, after all the pain she has gone through, my sister is feeling well
Sadly, despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Shimbil’s baby could not be saved.
Following the difficult experience, Shimbil and Gensy returned home to Lake Murray. With her sister’s support, Shimbil has since recovered and is now living with her family in Boboa.
“Now, after all the pain she has gone through, my sister is feeling well,” Gensy added.
Chad explained that the floatplane not only provides emergency support but also delivers vital medical supplies to remote clinics.
“We were also able to transport 84 boxes of saline, weighing 301 kilograms from Kiunga to Boboa. These will be used to treat locals with moderate dehydration,” he said.
“This shows the flexibility of having an aeroplane in that area.”
The floatplane project is a joint initiative of SDP and MAF for Western Province.