Horten Medical is an active contributor in the community with a focus on Papua New Guinea. Donating supplies not only of medical equipment, but essential items for both schools and hospitals. Mark Taffa is passionate about the activity he instigates in these areas. Mark works regularly with Dr Elvis Japhtlet in Port Moresby and Dr Chris Authur in Rabaul.
Mark attended the trip as DAISI’s PNG Program officer and DAISI’s biomedical expert with planned maintenance and repairs to existing equipment. Electrical power outages were a problem this trip, along with the sterilising machine breaking down. These both limited the number of cases done.
Mark has also been instrumental in setting up the laparoscopic unit at Sopas Hospital, organising carbon dioxide for laparoscopic insufflation, and other vital equipment for this trip.
This one week trip was organised by General Surgeon Dr Elvis Japhleth, who is the medical director and head surgeon at Sopas District Hospital in the PNG Highlands.
It was the fourth DAISI visit to the PNG Highlands, on the request of the CEO for Enga Health Provincial Authority (EHPA) Mr Aron Luai and Dr Elvis Japhlet.
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Shipping container departs for Honiara
by Sepehr Lajevardi
On March 24th, a twenty foot shipping container left Australia with destination Honiara, Solomon Islands. It contained an extensive amount of equipment requested by Dr Rooney Jagilly, general surgeon at National Referral Hospital.
Image showing DAISI volunteers Mark Taffa with Dominic Lopez load the shipping container destined for Honiara.
Laparoscopic workshop & surgery, Sopas District Hospital, Enga Province, PNG Highlands.
This was an historic trip to Sopas District Hospital, being the first laparoscopic workshop conducted in the Highlands of PNG. Colorectal surgeon Dr Carina Chow from Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital led the team bringing with her laparoscopic equipment donated by Wesley Hospital.
