Urgent call for oxygen: Flight reconnects power to health centre
Mougulu Health Centre was in darkness. A baby, struggling to breathe, desperately needed the oxygen concentrator—but without reliable electricity this young life and other patients needing oxygen were at risk. The only hope for a permanent solution was an MAF flight with a skilled electrician on board.
Story by Mandy Glass
“A baby nearly died in the clinic last night – needing the oxygen concentrator,” said Sally Lloyd, long-time volunteer living and serving the Bedamuni people of Mougulu.
“Thankfully, my husband managed to run a long cable from our house, which runs on hydro-power, to keep her on,” Sally said, describing a temporary fix.
“To get it sorted out was a matter of urgency to sustain our fridges, oxygen concentrator and lighting. Staff had been working mostly in the dark the previous few nights during emergencies such as pig bite, snake bite and deliveries.”
We need it [power issue] sorted out as a matter of urgency to sustain our fridges, oxygen concentrator and lighting. Staff have been working mostly in the dark the last few nights during emergencies such as pig bite, snake bite and deliveries.
The health centre at Mougulu is solar-powered, installed by MAF Technologies, and backed up by hydro-power.
Paul Isilawa, a Community Health Worker at Mougulu explained the need for reliable power.
“It's not only for running the fridge, it’s for all the power lightings and also any emergency equipment, like for giving oxygen.”
The crisis wasn’t limited to the clinic. The secondary school was also struggling. Teachers couldn’t make photocopies or print assignments.
Sally made two emergency calls on the weekend. One call reached a trusted and skilled electrician, Brian Baimako, a friend who lived far away at Aiyura in the Eastern Highlands. The other call was to MAF, seeking flights for Brian.
It wasn’t Brian’s first time making the long journey. He was part of the MAF Technologies team installing the system in 2020.
“It’s about the fourth time that I am heading to Mougulu to work on the hydro-power system as well as on the solar and generator systems,” Brian said.
Brian was greeted with hugs of relief by Sally and her husband as he got off the MAF plane in Mougulu – a place with no roads to connect it with the outside world.
The clinic’s power was his priority. Days of troubleshooting and wiring later, the lights flickered back to life. The oxygen concentrator was running, and the clinic could function again.
“He has been a massive help already – power is all sorted at the clinic,” Sally said. “The school, unfortunately, will need another visit… but such a blessing! And that little baby is still improving bit by bit!”
Brian had planned to stay for as long as it would take to complete the work, both at the clinic and at the school. However, a few days into the job, tragic news arrived: His sister had passed away. Sally sent another urgent request for an MAF flight.
Packed and ready, Brian kept working until the last moment.
“I’ve been travelling quite a bit to remote places, and I really enjoy serving the people living so remote. It’s a rewarding mission work to help them, using my God-given knowledge and skill set.”
Though the school still needed attention, Brian’s visit had already made a live-saving impact. He had restored not just power, but hope—one wire at a time.