November 4-6, staff at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, will move from their 40-year-old hospital to a brand new, seven-building medical complex just 100 feet away. The new hospital will have an additional 10,000 square feet, providing a total of 25,000 square feet of space. It will also house 136 beds, up from the 96 beds at the original location.
The move was prompted by a dilapidated and crumbling wood and plaster structure, deteriorated over the decades by the region's average 200 inches of rainfall per year. Experience the journey of building and relocation through the camera lenses of hospital and missionary staffers.
The children's ward, as in other wards of the hospital, crammed patients together
with only 24 inches of space between each bed. When beds were full, additional
patients or visiting family members slept on floormats between beds.
The heavy rainfall and wet climate of Papua New Guinea's Highlands region took
its toll on the existing medical complex.
Hospital nurses and staff tried to keep pharmaceuticals, supplies
and medical instruments organized and available in the original
hospital's cramped supply and dispensation rooms.
Conditions had become so extreme that consultants advised building a new
hospital rather than trying to repair and renovate the original location.
After developing extensive designs and building plans, construction began more
than two years ago with a $2 million grant from the Australian government. People
from around the world came to help in both design and planning as well as
construction, including Jordan Thompson (above) with his wife Rachael.
The new facility was built with concrete to better withstand the heavy
rains and warm, humid climate of the Highlands.
Larger and more numerous windows will make the new hospital brighter, as
opposed to the "dark and dingy" feel of the original facility, according to missionary
doctor Steph Doenges.
In the six weeks leading up to the November 4-6 big moving days, staff boxed
nonessentials, supplies and medicines and carted them gradually to the new
buildings, where they unpacked, organized and labeled everything.
Security guard Stalin used an old rolling hospital bed as a makeshift moving cart.
Everyone from Nazarene College of Nursing students to staff spouses and children have
pitched in to move the hospital.
Erin Meier, missionary doctor through World Medical Mission's post residency
program, packed and carried boxes of medicine to the new pharmacy.
Sister Christina Dirye, charge nurse for pediatrics, labeled cupboards and
drawers in the new pediatric ward.
New patient beds in the maternity ward wait to be unwrapped and put to use
bringing new lives into the world.
A new orthopedic room housed its supplies before moving day.
The hospital staff, nursing students and family members walked through the complex on
November 1, praying for God's anointing of the facility, staff and future patients.
Nazarene College of Nursing students Anek and AJ designed the words that will greet moms-to-be entering the
maternity unit.