August 2024
Skilled Medical has continued its support of the Louisiades Aid Project in 2024 with a donation of $2500.
The Louisiades Aid Project is an inspiring medical and humanitarian initiative coordinated by one of our long-standing rural GPs, Dr John Marley. This year marks Dr Marley’s fourth trip to the Louisiade Archipelago, a remote chain of islands located 200 km southeast of mainland Papua New Guinea.
Stretching over 160 km with few transport or supply services, the Louisiades are home to isolated communities with limited access to health care. The only clinic on Nimoa Island is staffed by dedicated local health workers but has no on-site medical practitioners. The nearest hospital is in Alotau—a two-day canoe journey away.
Since 2017, the Louisiades Aid Project has delivered essential medical supplies, equipment, and community support to the Nimoa Clinic and surrounding islands. Past initiatives have included contributions to the Spacim Pikinini contraceptive implant program, training local health workers, and providing much-needed items such as children’s medications and malaria detection kits. Donations of quality clothing, reading glasses, fishing tackle, diving masks, and sporting gear have also been warmly welcomed by the local community, where soccer and netball are especially popular.
Skilled Medical Director, Dr David Campbell said "We are pleased to keep supporting the Loiusiades Aid Project, and hope it can contribute to better health outcomes and stronger community ties in one of the most remote corners of our region."