Kudjip Nazarene Hospital

Papua New Guinea

Hospital Website
www.nazhealth.org/hospital/
Mission Organization
International Church of the Nazarene
Minimum Time Requirement
Four-week service minimum
Profile

Founded in 1967, Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is a 130-bed district hospital which offers full basic services for both inpatients and outpatients. It is located in the South Waghi District of the Jiwaka Province of Papua New Guinea and functions as both a local primary facility as well as a referral center. The location is rural; the nearest small town is about 15 minutes away, and the nearest significant commercial center is about an hour away. The hospital's purpose is to help prevent illness, to help those who have sickness or injuries, to care for mothers and babies, and to provide training for the men and women of Papua New Guinea in health work.

The medical work is carried on because the Church of the Nazarene believes we should do as Jesus did and help those who are sick. The church desires to educate individuals about how to prevent illness as well as to treat those who are already sick. It also seeks to train young men and women to help their own people. Most importantly, it strives to lead all patients, whether at the hospital or in a community health setting, to a knowledge of Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Kudjip Nazarene Hospital provides medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric, emergency, and trauma care to its patients with an occupancy rate of 98–100 percent. Trauma accounts for about 15 percent of all work at the hospital due to tribal and family violence or accidents. The outpatient department is very busy (with an attendance of around 3,300 monthly and 40,000 yearly) and is a major part of the hospital’s work. The department serves as the first line of health. It is also the access route by which referral patients from other hospitals, health centers, or private physicians see physicians at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.

Patients pay outpatient fees that are fairly reasonable in the local economy. Only rarely is the cost of care a barrier to patients seeking care, and fees are deferred when appropriate. The hospital has five wards containing 110 beds – pediatric, surgical, medical, obstetric, and tuberculosis. Often the demand for beds exceeds the number of beds available. The staff tries to avoid such situations because of the difficulty in providing care to those lying in the floor and the demands it places on the limited nursing staff. Up to 50 percent of adult medical admissions are for preventable diseases. The percentage for pediatric cases is much less. There are around 400 admissions per month. The pharmacy has difficulty keeping sufficient drugs and supplies on hand at all times, and government sources continue to be unreliable. The hospital does not have physical therapy because of the lack of personnel and equipment. Kudjip has been actively involved in providing clinics for outlying villages with the intent of establishing centers for primary health care. There is also a nursing school at Kudjip station.

Travel
Fly by commercial airline to Port Moresby; fly by commercial airline to Mt. Hagen; drive 35 km to Kudjip
Time Difference
+14 hours daylight saving time, +15 hours Eastern Standard Time
Location
Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is located in the Waghi Valley of the Minj District in the middle of the Western Highlands Province (WHP) of Papua New Guinea. This region is the broadest and most developed of the highlands.
People
Melanesian
Language
Although there are many languages and dialects in Papua New Guinea, Melanesian Pidgin is the overall trade language in the Kudjip vicinity. The hospital staff speaks English.
Religion
The majority identify themselves as Christians, but often with an undercurrent of traditional tribal beliefs mixed in.
Climate
The coastal regions of Papua New Guinea are hot and steamy, and although the island is essentially in the tropics and only three degrees off the Equator, its altitude is approximately 5,000 feet, which makes the climate very temperate. Generally, Papua New Guinea has a rainy and a dry season. The whole year, however, is relatively wet, with the rainy season being even wetter. Temperatures average 80F during the day and 55–65F at night.
Housing
The mission provides individual housing, utilities, and furniture in the form of a house, duplex, or apartment. Single individuals are assigned the smaller living quarters. Electricity is generally dependable. Gas stoves and all basic modern conveniences are available. Washing machines are standard, but dryers are not. Most drying of laundry is done outdoors. Toilet paper, linens, and kitchen needs are provided.
Food
Volunteers are responsible for their own food, meals, and shopping. Mt. Hagen has a lovely market which sells fresh vegetables of all kinds, and the stores there provide most foodstuffs. The brands, however, are different and more expensive than in the U.S., and ready-made items are not available.
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