For nine years, Jamie Gudego has been a lifeline in remote Honinabi—as a health worker, church leader and father. In a village only accessible by MAF flights, he continues to serve over 1,500 people with dedication and care.
Story by Mandy Glass
“I should have been here for only three years. But people like me here,” says Jamie Gudego.
Nine years ago, Jamie arrived in the remote village of Honinabi in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province. A trained Community Health Worker (CHW), church leader and father of five, Jamie wears many hats — all in service to the people around him.
Honinabi lies deep in the jungle. It is not accessible by road or river and relies solely on its airstrip for efficient transport. The nearest town and district centre, Kiunga, is at least four days’ walk away.
If there was no airstrip, it’s going to be very hard for me to get medicine, supplies and referral patients.
“I’m also a dentist. I do extract teeth,” Jamie says. “In the North Fly district, we don’t have any dentist, so I need to do a lot of dentist work.”
Flown in and out by MAF, Jamie provides essential dental care in places like Mougulu.
“They still need me. They want to have a dentist out there,” he says, referring to his care for the many students of Mougulu’s primary and secondary schools, another assignment in addition to his daily work.
Jamie’s impact spans more than ten communities with over 1,500 people.
“Most patients I see have respiratory diseases and malaria,” he says. “But currently I’m seeing some tuberculosis patients. Some are referred; some I treat.”
Every Tuesday, Jamie provides antenatal care. Thursdays are for family planning.
The local airstrip remains crucial. It’s short, undulating , slippery when wet and the community sometimes struggles to keep it in usable condition.
“If there was no airstrip, it’s going to be very hard for me to get medicine, supplies and referral patients,” Jamie says. “We only have this transport. To carry patients, it’s very difficult.”
When the airstrip is unusable, Jamie walks three hours to the neighbouring airstrip, Nomad River, to collect supplies, often carrying medicine back through jungle paths. “Just this Sunday, I got six cartons,” he says.
But there’s risk involved. “Sometimes rain spoils the medicines,” he adds.
Yet Jamie keeps going.
“I like to serve people… They feel fear coming to the hospital, but I make them feel happy.”
Though he has said it is time to leave, for now, he stays. And he is proud of what he has built, especially his children. His eldest son is now studying in his second year at Sogeri National School of Excellence, near the national capital of Port Moresby.
“I'm very proud of him, yes.”
Whether it’s pulling teeth, delivering babies, trekking through mud for medicine or bringing joy to the sick—Jamie Gudego’s life is a testament to perseverance, humility and deep love for his people.
