I was invited by Dr. Bobby Wellsh (young enthusiastic, energetic Emergency Physician), with the blessing of the office of Director Curative (a/DCHS Dr. Raymond Saulep), and final authorization by the office of Simbu Provincial Health Authority Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Francis Wandi to their institution in the year 2021.
Dr. Wellsh did his postgraduate Diploma in Anaesthesia/Intensive Care with our Critical Care Medical team in Alotau in the year 2012, and Dr. Saulep did his three months Postgraduate Master in Rural Medicine Critical Care Medical attachment with us in Alotau in 2013.
They both were exposed, and had personal experiences with Critical Care Medical Services, and were impressed.
They both agreed that Critical Care Medical Services is WHAT OUR PEOPLE NEED IN ALL OUR PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS TODAY!
They invited me up to Kundiawa Provincial Hospital to help establish the services there for the people of Simbu.
Dr. Wellsh had set up and developed the Emergency Department, and prehospital Care with St. John’s Ambulance services of PNG during the Covid 19 Epidemic crisis.
A well-established system, however, he needed other Specialist Medical Officers to be introduced into the full Critical Care Medical Services system. This includes Prehospital Care, Emergency Department Care, Critical Care Monitoring and Reassessment Unit (“ICU”), Acute beds of All Specialities and the Operating Theatre.
My main task at Kundiawa Provincial Hospital, was to do awareness, coaching, and mentoring in regards to establishing the Critical Care Medical Services system in Simbu.
While in Alotau, I was thinking how to roll out these essential services throughout the country. I asked DWU to build a Clinical School in Alotau, so that we can use DWU to roll out Critical Care Medical Services.
However, it was very difficult logistically for DWU to set up their Clinical School in Alotau.
When I arrived at Kundiawa Provincial Hospital, “BINGO!”
DWU MEDICAL CLINICAL SCHOOL IS HERE, THEIR STUDENTS ARE DOING CLINICAL BLOCKS HERE AT KUNDIAWA PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.
I issued the CHALLENGE to the Board and Management of Simbu Provincial Health Authority, and the Senior Specialists here at Sir Nombri Kundiawa Provincial Hospital to own Critical Care Medicine and establish THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE FOR CRITICAL CARE MEDICAL SERVICES HERE AT THEIR INSTITUTION WITH THE BACKING OF DWU.
I am writing this final journey of Critical Care Medicine here at the proposed National Training Centre for Critical Care Medicine in Papua New Guinea, Sir Nombri Kundiawa Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea.
As part of this mission, I am engaged as the coach/mentor/advisor for this purpose!
We are working on doing awareness and getting all Specialists Medical Officers to see the same vision I saw in 1991 back at Port Moresby General Hospital, number 1 Training Hospital in Papua New Guinea, and the Clinical School for School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea.
We hope that Dwine Word University through the Medical School can support this worthwhile mission.
Lucas Samof
Director of Critical Care Medical Services
Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority.
MBBS/DA/Master of Medicine (Anaesthesia/Intensive Care), SMHS -University of Papua New Guinea.
Certificate in Emergency & Disaster Medicine- Senri Critical Care Medical Centre, Osaka, Japan.
Certified Instructor of Early Management of Severe Trauma, and Care of the Critically Ill Surgical Patients courses, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Certified Instructor of Emergency Life Support course, Australian College of Emergency Physician.
Founder/Mentor/Coach – Critical Care Medicine in Papua New Guinea.
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