Kokoda Hospital And Kokoda Primary School Closed

[Boss Meri]

Kokoda Hospital: We were informed by Sister Margaret of the Kokoda Hospital some weeks ago that they were in desperate need of medical supplies so we launched an appeal on our website. Thanks to three people who donated funds along with ourselves who doubled the amount, today 6th June, 2007 our KTL base in Kokoda was able to hand over to the hospital supplies mentioned below:

• AMOXICILLIN 500MG CAP 1000’S X 2 BOXES
• AMOXICILLIN 250MG CAP 1000’ X 1 BOX
• AMOXICILLIN 125MG/5MLS SUSP 100MLS X 100
• CO-TRIMOXAZOLE 400/80MG TAB 1000’S X 1
• CO-TRIMOXAZOLE SUSP 100MLS X 50
• CEPHALEXIN 250MG CAP 1000’S X 1
• INDOMETHACIN 25MG CAP 1000’S X 1
• FLUCLOXACILLIN 250MG CAP 500’S X 1
• CHLORAMPHENICOL 250MG CAP 1000’S X 1
• CHLORAMPHENICOL SUSP 100MLS X 50
• BENZYL PENICILLIN INJ 1MEGA X 100
• ASPIRIN TAB 300MG 500’S X 1
• PARACETAMOL TAB 500MG 1000’S X 2
• PARACTAMOL ELIXIR 60MLS X 115
• TINIDAZOLE TAB 100’S X 1
• GASTROGEL(NEUTRAZID) TAB 500’S X 1
• HYDROCORTISONE SOD. SUC. 100MG INJ X 50
• SALBUTAMOL 4MG TAB 1000’S X 1
• SALBUTAMOL RESP. SOLN 30MLS X 20
• BENADRYL(DYNADRYL) 100MLS X 60
• GLUCOSE 50% 50MLS X 30
• AMODIAQUINE TAB 1000’ X 1
• QUININE TAB 1000’S X 1
• ARTEMEDINE Tablets 50 MG X 144
• CHLOROQUINE PHOSPHATE TABLETS X 3000 TABLETS

Supplied by Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd, PO Box 1614, Port Moresby.
Telephone: +675 325 9248
Fax: +675 325 6890
Attention Christie (chemist)

We would like to thank the following people for their contributions:

Receipts from trekkers:

• Tracy Tobin – Donation $500.00 – trek 296 – received 28/05/07 (fence or medical supplies)
• Maree Cordes – Donation $200 – trek 302 – received 30/05/07 (fence of medical supplies)
• Peter Fraser – Donation $100.00 – trek 302 – received 28/05/07 (medical supplies)

  We have since received a donation of $50.00 from Netbank but have no idea who it is from. On Sister Margarets 'wish list' she had Quinine Tablets listed. Unfortunately the chemist we went through was not able to supply these. As a result we will double this amount again and purchase Quinine Tablets from another chemist and will send over on our charter on the 8th June.

Update 5th June: As the school had re-opened, we have used the money above towards medical supplies for Kokoda Hospital. It converted into K2000.00 and we topped it up with another K2000.00 from Kokoda Trekking making a total of K4000.00 worth of supplies.

Kokoda Primary School: As the saying goes, one or two spoil it for everyone else. A few weeks ago the school library was broken into. When the police were called a teacher told them she recognised where the guys were from. The police followed up the lead.

Unfortunately, one of the people responsible for the library incident got angry and went to the school in pay back and chased after one female teacher with a bush knife threatening to cut off her head. Other boys walking past heard her screams and ran to her aid. The person involved ran away from Kokoda and I believe is hiding somewhere in Port Moresby.

However in the meantime as the school has had quite a few breakins, the Headmaster has had enough and closed down the school. How can we help? If the school was fenced the teachers would feel safe to return and the school property would hopefully not be ransacked or broken into again. In the meantime the children and families suffer as like anywhere as they would like their children to be educated.

Kokoda Appeal: If there is anyone out there reading this and feeling generous and would like to help, please bank into the following account your donation and email me stating how you want your money to be spent. Mark whether its to be put towards a fence for the school or medicine for the Kokoda Hospital. gail@pngbd.com

I will provide receipts to show I have purchased goods on your behalf as your donation. Medicine can be purchased in bulk from a wholesale chemist based in Port Moresby but the fence might prove a little more difficult as I will have to get a quote and the area is quite large. Today I emailed two different locally based companies to see what would be required in order for them to issue a firm quotation.

Either way, let me know what you think, as its a shame both of these important bodies have been closed and now its the people who will suffer.

Click here for payment options either by credit card or bank transfer details:

Alternatively, if you would like to donate any medical supplies, they can be packaged and sent to our Australian address. I will have them sent up to PNG on your behalf when our food ration packs are ready to be despatched. Email me for a delivery address. gail@pngbd.com

I will acknowledge all donations on our website per this link. Thanks heaps!
Picture_247_Hospital.jpg
Community_School.jpg

[Boss Meri]

Update 28th May:

Kokoda Primary School: School has been re-opened but Headmaster is still nervous and would like a fence to surround the grounds to make it harder for anyone to break in and to add to their overall security.

Kokoda Hospital: Spoke to Warren Bartlett of the Kokoda Track Authority who said that Sister Margaret had put in an order for the hospital but that he was not aware they needed supplies urgently. He would look at getting her order he has on hand away as soon as possible.

However, as there is always a need for supplies to the hospital, any donations will still be much appreciated.

[Boss Meri]

Kokoda School Update 6th June, 2007: Have received an email from Libby Jack re a 'Donation to Kokoda Primary School':

Hi Gail, I finally have the items ready and now that I am on holidays can get them to Cairns. I have spoken to Chris by phone and he has asked that if you give the go ahead to charge the items to your account can you let him know. As soon as this is okay, I will send the boxes by Australia Post to Cairns. There are 4 boxes filled with items such as books, pencils, rulers etc plus a couple of new rugby balls, tennis balls, skipping ropes and other goodies that I have bought. From your recent articles on Kokoda Trekking Forum, all the items can go to the school in Kokoda. I hope all is well with you in Moresby. I love reading all your postings on the website.

Regards, Libby unquote
————————————————————————————————-

I have just given Libby the green light and our agent in Cairns to charge to our account. On receipt we will have all items handed over to the Kokoda Primary School.

We at Kokoda Trekking would like to thank Libby for her kind contribution.

Good News from Cairns Freight who operate out of Cairns:

Hi Gail

There will be no charges for our handling of these cartons. If we include them with one of your consignments then that takes care of airport costs at this end. There may just be the slight increase in the weight of the total shipment

Cheers
Chris

[Boss Meri]

Received the following response from Boroko Rotary Club:

Hi Gail,

I will pass this onto the Rotary Club Of Boroko's board members to discuss and see if any assistance can be given.

President Elect Peter Loko who takes over in July 2007 as President may choose to attempt to obtain assistance from a Rotary Club down in Australia.

Once discussed and a decision made we will get back to you.

Fingers crossed.

Regards

Brent

—————————————————————————–

Brent, any chance of getting Gail to find someone to give us an idea of the length of the perimeter of the required fence. I can then work out what materials would be needed.

Cheers
Mike

[Boss Meri]

Gail, it is very difficult to quote without the perimeter being measured. Please arrange to have this done.

We could quote you chainmesh as is in one of the photos and we could also quote spike fencing. please also advise how many corners there are and the number of vehicle access points and single man access gates are required.

If the area is on the hill we will also need to know as there will be strainers required at a 30M straight run otherwise if flat every 50M

regards,

Jim Jenkins
Atlas Steel

Update: Have had our builder measure today and he has advised the following:

• Perimeter of Fence – 500 Metres – Length; 250 Metres – Width
• Corners x 4
• Vehicle Access – 1 x 6 Metres
• Single Man Access 1 x 1 Metre
• Hill Strainers – Flat Ground
• Barrets (Drains) x 4

This information has been passed onto Jim 28/05/07

[Boss Meri]

School Update: Apparently the landowners living around the school have agreed to have some of their men act as security during the day. At night the Mamba Estate (local palm oil company) are getting some security to act as guards so the teachers can feel safe to return to work. If we can get a fence built around the school, it can only help the Headmaster and teachers and protect their equipment.

Compared to what Australian schools have by way of resource materials, they are really lacking but try their best with what they have to work with.

On the track at the moment is a trekker by the name of Mark Goodear back for his second trek. He sent in a $500 donation to help the school at Kovelo where his guide Rod Ori lives. I converted this into Kina and it bought heaps of materials per a wish list I managed to get off the teacher prior to his arrival.

We arranged for his donation to be there waiting for him when he arrived in Kovelo and he handed it over to the school teacher himself. Apparently the teacher and students were overwhelmed and now even if they have nothing to sit on, they at least have some pens/pencils/paper/colouring pencils and a whole lot more.

Photograph: Teachers at Kokoda Primary School taken last year when we handed over to the school some books donated by a school teacher from Brisbane along with a lawn mower donated by ourselves. They are standing under the school library built by Rotary International who are presently in Kokoda doing all kinds of work in and around the Kokoda Station. Our KTL 1 Mitsubishi Canter truck has helped move up to Kokoda several water tanks and materials for water supply to be built at Sengi Village:
IMGP1343.jpg

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