High praise for YWAM
G O V E R N M E N T l e a d e r s from Australia and Papua New Guinea have praised the Townsville- based Youth With A Mission medical ship group as a lifesaving program helping to cement friendship between the two countries.
The Townsville Christian group, led by Ken Milligan, held its annual Breakfast by the Sea in front of 700 people yesterday where PNG Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel described his government’s investment into YWAM’s medical ship, MV YWAM, as “probably the best value for money investment we have made into health services”.
“In total, with contributions from provinces and districts, we have invested 15 million kina into YWAM since 2010 to support the wonderful work this mission has been doing,” Mr Abel said.
Regional Development, Territories and Local Government Minister John McVeigh said the Australian Government had provided $ 2 million over the past two years and had about 1000 undergraduates travel and study in PNG under its Colombo Plan.
“Your support for local communities is adding to this reservoir of goodwill that exists between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” Mr McVeigh said.
“You are building the next generation of people- to- people links that will continue to cement our friendship.”
PNG patron and former PNG prime minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu said the message he brought from PNG was “total gratitude”.
“I believe the YWAM medical ship program in PNG has become one of the most profound links between our two countries and our peoples,” Sir Rabbie said.
“It saves lives, restores sight, addresses critical dental needs, improves health outcomes, upskills health workers and provides basic health care for thousands of our people.”
An overcome Mr Milligan thanked the support of volunteers, Townsville businesses and government.
Speaking after the event, he said the mission was continuing to develop in NQ and PNG with more growing involvement from highly trained medical specialists and volunteers from around the world.
Agreements have just been struck with Israel and Singapore to provide medical staff and students.
“We want to expand more and develop more,” he said.
He said investment of about $ 10 million, much of it through the support of local businesses, into its Townsville city campus had provided the footprint and exposure to expand.
Last year its PNG medical services delivered direct care to over 28,000 people in hundreds of isolated villages.