Health Ministry

Volunteer Health workers are trained by PIM to provide services to many Sepik villages.

Timothy is giving an injection at Latoam .

Two community health workers from the clinic came to give injections.
Notice vaccine carrier.

Margaret is teaching about blood pressure control.

Graduation of Village Health Volunteers
Village of Oom Health conference.

In October a conference was held in the village of Oom for 17 Village Health Volunteers. Staff from Save the Children co-ordinates the Program of Village Health Volunteers.  Staff from Save the children, a newly appointed government VHV official, Moses Kapus, and Margaret and David went to take part in the graduation ceremonies. Certificates were given to all the volunteers who attended. PIM now has 39 certified VHV’s working in remote villages.

Please pray that the government will review PIM’s request for health agency status and will provide funds to expand our health services to the people.

Thank you

The staff of Pacific Island Ministries extends their appreciation to the Lutheran Women's Missionary League of Ontario, Canada for the donations of medical supplies and layettes for newborn babies. The medical supplies were very opportune as we were very short of gauze squares. The layettes were quickly dispersed and enjoyed as is apparent with this new mother. The quilt was appreciated by Jim (PIM teacher) and Morin who live in Yatoam, which is located in the mountains and is quite cold at nighttime.

We thank the LWML for their work of Christian mercy in their endeavors to get supplies to the mission field.

Margaret and Rients Mazereeuw, missionaries

PIM, Ambunti

The Hands of Hope medical team ministered to the people of Ambunti and surrounding Area from July 20 to July 24, 2009. The spiritual focus of their ministry was evident in the daily devotions with the volunteers, the two community worship services and the daily prayers with all the patients.

The team arrived early Monday morning. After a quick breakfast they walked to the Health Center, introduced themselves to the volunteers, had a devotional time and started seeing patients. Click here (PDF) to read about the Hands of Hope team and see photos.

Raj extracting teeth

Raj extracting teeth

Dentist Raj, from the Hands of Hope medical team, extracted 421 teeth in one day. This was very much appreciated by the people as there are no dental services in Ambunti or anywhere nearby. He extracted 1400 teeth in the 5 days he was in Ambunti.

Service Programs-  Airstrips

The Sepik River Valley area teams with swamps; there are virtually no roads, and bridges are non-existent. River travel is time consuming and expensive, all of which means that airstrips are a valuable resource for remote villages. The Airstrip Construction and Maintenance Ministry of PIM plays a vital role in the development of airstrips.

Depending on the diligence of the villagers, an airstrip can take anywhere from 3-15 years to build. Most of the time, PIM provides the needed shovels, pick axes, grass knives, axes, rakes wheelbarrows, etc. The opening of an airstrip means that the people, if they are willing to do the work, can establish a school and/or health clinic in their village. The airstrip also spells hope for the person who is deathly sick with malaria or is struggling through a complicated childbirth. MAF can be contacted via radio to do a medical evacuation.

Yatoam people welcome the first MAF landing on their airstrip .

Mission Aviation Fellowship lands in Ambunti

The yellow pickup is a PIM vehicle and is the only vehicle in Ambunti other than 3 or 4 tractors. We rely heavily on MAF not only to get supplies from Wewak (a coastal city) to Ambunti, but also to get supplies and personnel from Ambunti to villages further in the interior where we serve.

School supplies are delivered by MAF to village schools.