Since my last visit in 2019, Bana Health Center’s staff and buildings have changed, but otherwise life moves on, in many ways the same as it has for thousands of years. Gardens are planted, houses are built, and the main staple food, sago, is painstakingly harvested from the core of a tree.
To read more about Bana Health Center click here. https://woodleysaroundtheworld.com/2019/02/20/bana-health-center/
I was fortunate to be able to go to Bana Health Center again, this time with a team of people including a nurse (Buckley) along with a maintenance crew preparing the new maternity and inpatient wards for their opening.
This post is simply a snippet of pictures of our team’s trip to Bana Health Center in East Sepik, PNG.
Some highlights included:
Training
Visitors
Patients
Hundreds of patients were seen and treated over our short time.
Some patients included…
Maternity Clinic
Eye Clinic
Glasses are a rarity in rural PNG due to both expense and accessibility. Through a unique NGO called Vision Spring we were able to provide eye check-ups and glasses for nearly 100 people. It was my first time holding an eye clinic on a rural outreach. I have to say, it was one of the highlights for me watching people’s excitement in seeing clearly. Having a strong contact prescription myself, it is something I certainly take for granted and can see why people would be so excited.
Hikes
Children’s Program with a Local Pastor
Limbum Basket
The people of East Sepik remain very much dependent on their natural surroundings. Their homes are made from materials around them. Their food is harvested from their gardens or trees around them. Even their baskets are made from the giant leaves of the limbum tree. Traditionally carried by a woman on their heads, these baskets can hold upwards of 100 pounds of firewood or other supplies. One of the Mama’s at Bana was grateful for me coming and serving her people and I was able to capture some pictures of her collecting the perfect leaves and making the basket from start to finish.
Thank you Bana, until next time
Woodleys Around the World 
What an incredible journey. Thank you so much for sharing but more importantly for serving. We are so grateful for you, the other doctors, nurses and response maintenence team. God bless you all and all that were helped. May He keep you strong and safe.
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God bless you and team for all you are doing. You appreciation and help reflect on the
faces of the people you help. It is awesome to see. Sending prayers for your continued wok.
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That’s Awesome. You’re doing such great work. Thank you for all you’re doing. May God continue to guide you, protect you, provide for you and bless the people & lives you touch.
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You are dressed very casual for teaching!!! Great work!!! Continue loving what you are doing and allowing God to work through you!!!
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Matt and Tammy… always glad to see the wonderful work you are doing among the people there. I sense God has given you a great love for them. So many are helped !!
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Love seeing these updates, Matt! You are touching lives in Jesus’ name! I look forward to joining you all!
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