After two years of darkness, MAF's health patrols have been able to return to Yenkisa - to save lives where conflict once silenced care.
“A lot of them died. We asked them, ’What happened?’” said Doctor Diane Yoko, contemplating the absence of health service in Yenkisa.
For two years, ethnic clashes in this remote Papua New Guinea community prevented health services, leaving families to battle the ever-present malaria and other sicknesses without aid.
MAF flew to Yenkisa, delivering a health patrol from Kompiam Rural Hospital, restoring health services in a place where roads cannot reach.
A team of ten led by Diane treated eager patients from the queue, targeting infections like malaria and typhoid.
“Over the two days that we’ve been here, we’ve seen about 100 to 150 patients and probably 30 to 35 cases of positive malaria so far,” she said.
Children with high fever received life-saving treatments, while pregnant mothers, long without clinics, found safety.
MAF flights are pivotal in order to bring health services to remote areas.
“MAF is very important,” Diane said. “They help health workers get to the community at a faster rate.”
In only 15 minutes, MAF brought the team of skilled health workers from the rural hospital in Kompiam to the remote airstrip in Yenkisa – a journey that would have taken days on foot, walking through the harsh jungle.
Such an overland journey is something Diane has done in the past.
“After days of strolling through the jungle, and being exhausted mentally as well as physically, it does take a toll,” said Diane.
“Being able to get here with a fresh mind, relaxed and ready to help the community – MAF makes a big difference.”
“There was fighting in the village,” said Kaiam Pakao, a Yenkisa mother of 2 who attended the clinic. “I was determined to get my kids vaccinated so that's why I came.”
Vaccinations, antenatal care and mosquito nets fortified Yenkisa against future struggles, while community meetings encouraged peace for the aid post’s reopening.
Willie Pyakii, a nursing officer on the patrol, has experienced MAF’s impact personally. Being stationed in Yenkisa, he was forced to flee from the violence in 2023, calling MAF for rescue.
“I was here, I was with a patient. I gave a call to MAF and they responded to me, and they came,” he recalled.
Unable to land due to fighting on the airstrip, MAF guided him to walk three days to Yambaitok, the next-best option for pickup.
Now that Willie has been able to return to Yenkisa, he’s driven to serve the people once again.
“If we don’t treat them, they will die,” he said, his care for the people of Yenkisa evident – a testament to how close he became with them during his time serving as a community health worker.
The hospital, a ministry of the Baptist Union of PNG, were not the only team to send workers: A group of pastors also joined on the MAF patrol to engage with the community to prevent further violence in the future.
“We asked them if they want this to continue, or not, and if they do, how to stop the law and order issues that are arising in the communities and bring peace,” said Diane.
The partnership of Kompiam Rural Hospital and MAF, fueled by prayer and generous support, is building a better future for the hardest to reach communities in PNG.
STORY & PHOTOS / TAJS JESPERSEN