LAE, Papua New Guinea — 1 September 2026
The Australian Government, through the Australian Consulate-General in Lae, donated 20 ventilators valued at K1 million to Lutheran Health Services (LHS) during a handover ceremony held at the Australian Consulate-General office in Lae on 1 September 2026, strengthening emergency and life-saving care at Lutheran health service rural hospitals in Morobe and Madang.
The ventilators were officially handed over to LHS Director Mr Japalis Kaiok and LHS Board Member Rev. Kinim Siloi by Australian Consul-General in Lae Mr Brenton Kinowski. The handover was witnessed by staff from the LHS national office.
Mr Kanowski said the ventilators represent a significant investment in life-saving medical equipment and expressed his satisfaction that the Australian Government was able to support Lutheran Health Services with equipment that could help save lives.
He said the ventilators are user-friendly and come with instructions for their operation, but stressed that appropriate training is important before they are used.
Clinicians who will be using the ventilators have already undergone introductory training, with further training to continue.
“These pieces of equipment are suitable for rural health facilities to manage patients who are critically ill while waiting to be referred for further medical assistance,” Mr Kanowski said.
He said the portable ventilators can operate using electricity and rechargeable battery power, making them particularly valuable for rural health facilities where reliable electricity can be a challenge.
LHS Director Mr Japalis Kaiok thanked the Australian Consulate-General in Lae for the timely donation, saying the ventilators would strengthen emergency and life-saving care across the Lutheran health network.
Mr Kaiok said the ventilators will be distributed to Tent City Urban Clinic, Braun Rural Hospital and Etep Rural Hospital in Morobe Province, and Gaubin Rural Hospital and Yagaum Rural Hospital in Madang Province.
He said these facilities serve many rural and remote communities where access to higher-level medical care and emergency referral remains a challenge.
“The ventilators will support patients who are unable to breathe adequately on their own, particularly during emergency and critical situations,” Mr Kaiok said.
He said their portable design and ability to operate using electricity and/or rechargeable battery power make them particularly valuable for rural hospitals.
Mr Kaiok said Medical Officers, Health Extension Officers and appropriately trained nurses will be able to use the equipment within their clinical competencies, particularly in emergency care.
Most importantly, he said, the ventilators can help stabilise and sustain critically ill patients while referral to provincial hospitals or other higher-level health facilities is being arranged.
LHS expressed its appreciation for the strong working relationship between ELC-PNG and the Australian Government through the Australian Consulate-General in Lae, saying the continued partnership provides practical support to health workers and communities, particularly those in rural and remote areas.
LHS Board Member Rev. Kinim Siloi expressed sincere gratitude for the ongoing health partnership, saying the Church provides essential health services but continues to face challenges with access to life-saving equipment.
Rev. Siloi said much of the equipment being used in health facilities needs to be upgraded or replaced, adding that the donation would provide a significant boost to the level of healthcare provided.
The donation follows the Australian Government’s broader support for Lutheran Health Services and Christian health services in Papua New Guinea. In August, the Australian Government supported the delivery of a 40-foot container containing 1,930 cartons of medical supplies to LHS.
The ventilators are also part of the wider Australian Government programme to provide 100 ventilators to hospitals across Papua New Guinea, with Lutheran Health Services among the recipients.
ENDS
