Papua New Guinea is the land of the unexpected, the least explored country on Earth! It has 1,361 islands - 291 of which are inhabited - 800 known languages, and 7 million people. 84% of the population live in rural areas and villages located in mountains, jungles, rivers and along the coast. These beautiful landscapes can make it extremely difficult to receive adequate healthcare as islands without airports and shorelines with no roads or bridge access make it near impossible to get in.
In Papua New Guinea, 5 women die in childbirth every day, one of the highest rates in the world. Other public health stats that demonstrate the concerning effects of such lack of access to quality healthcare include 1 in 13 children die before the age of 5, someone dies of tuberculosis every two hours, and there is only 1 dentist for every 100,000 people.
One ministry has pioneered an innovative solution to meet this need in the name of Christ. This ministry uses medically equipped ships to reach isolated islands and remote shoreline villages through healthcare and the gospel of Jesus. Along with medical services, their medical ships also bring hope, mercy and God's love. They desire for these isolated communities to know they are not forgotten; they are seen and heard by a loving God.
After a few months of initial training, Goers will live on board the medical ship 6-8 months at a time and spend 2-3 months resting, recovering, training, and serving administratively at the Hawaii home base in between outreach trips. During the travel season, the ship makes transformation visits to different isolated communities every 1-2 weeks.
On board the ship, Goer have responsibilities from Monday through Friday. In addition to fulfilling the role and job duties, the Goer will also carry God's presence on board and in every interaction with our national volunteers. There are ample opportunities to minister and disciple others, through prayer meetings, community meetings, devotionals and supporting the leadership team on board.
The role of the Nurse on board the ship is to work alongside the other health workers in order to bring effective and sustainable health care to the patients that are seen in the rural and urban outpatient clinic settings that the Medical ship facilitates.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Administer vaccinations to babies and children in a immunization clinic in a primary health care setting.
• Dispense medications for patients.
• Use effective health education to improve the quality of life to the patients and their families.
• Perform basic wound care for the patients who require it.
• Treat all patients, from neonates to geriatrics.
• Assist doctors and surgeons with minor medical procedures when required.
• Spend time with the patients, reassuring and talking with them.
• Work in collaboration with other health professionals from different professional backgrounds to ensure that their patients receive the best care.
• Help with restocking of clinic equipment prior to clinic days.
• Registered Nurse in home country and in Papua New Guinea.
• Helpful to have some experience working in a developing nation.
• Educator – the ability to educate and train both patients and other health care workers.
• Compassionate – the ability to be able to care for, value and connect with all different kinds of patients from different backgrounds.
• Conscientious – a good work ethic willing to work long hours in difficult conditions.
• Flexibility – the ability to adapt quickly to a change of plan at short notice.
• Teamwork – the ability to work well within any team of people from any nation with a variety of different skills.
• Good communicator – the ability to be able to communicate to people of all nationalities who may not speak English as a first language.
• Organizer - the ability to ensure an organized and safe work space.