Nami is a small and extremely isolate village in Papua 

New Guinea. Being 7 hours hike from the nearest airstrip (Edwaki), a medical emergency is a frightening prospect.

A few weeks ago a woman gave birth in this village and the feared became a reality. Her placenta retained and consequently she began bleeding heavily. For two days her and her husband waited in hope that the body would naturally expel the placenta, but it did not and the bleeding continued.

Realising that she would soon die without professional medical assistance, four men from the village carried 

her the seven hours to Edwaki in the hope of calling MAF. Fortunately MAF pilot Martin was operating in the area delivering loads of roofing iron to Bulowo for a school building.

Receiving the medevac call he immediately flew to Edwaki where he picked up the lady, her husband and a local nurse and flew them to a Catholic hospital in Aitape (on the North coast).

We are so pleased to report that the lady survived and is already back in her home village happily enjoying her new little baby.

A satellite shot of PNG showing the 7 hour walk. Click on it to enlarge.