In the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea, determined young adults are training to become Community Health Workers (CHWs). They are equipped with faith, supported by MAF, and driven by the urgent needs of their people.
Story by Mandy Glass
Sephreid Kuri knows what it means to watch loved ones suffer without medical help. In his remote village of Duranmin, there’s no medically trained people, and no road in or out.
“My area doesn’t have a CHW or health worker. Because of this, many in my family and community have died,” said the first-year student at the Telefomin Community Health Worker School.
“I want to become a health worker so that I can serve my families. But the main reason… this is God’s mission work. Jesus came to this ground, he served people, he became a doctor. I want to extend his mission that he left with us.”
I believe MAF is a mission from God. It’s more than a transport service, it’s a life-saving ministry.
Located in Papua New Guinea’s remote highlands near the Kenu River, a tributary of the Ok Om river, Duranmin is a 12–15-minute flight or a two-day trek from its district centre of Telefomin.
Many government workers assigned to Duranmin have left, unable to cope with the harsh living conditions. But Sephreid is determined.
“I want to be different. I want to go back and serve my people.”
His dream became possible through MAF flights and the CHW School in Telefomin, which offers a two-year training program to students from across PNG. Of the current 64 students, many—like Sephreid—depend entirely on MAF to reach the school.
“The Telefomin CHW School has only one reliable mode of transport, the MAF aircraft,” Sephreid said. “When supplies like food rations run low, classes sometimes get suspended until MAF can bring in goods from Kiunga or Tabubil.”
Behind the scenes is Maggie Dunn, Principal of the CHW School, who brings with her a wealth of healthcare experience.
Despite initial hesitations about the remote location, Maggie accepted the leadership role offered by the Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea Health Department and relocated from the busy hub of Rabaul in East New Britain to Telefomin.
“It was really challenging for me to take up this offer because of the remoteness of the district,” she said. “Then I said to myself that it's God's calling.”
She is clear about the school’s mission. “We are not only training them to give medication. They go with the Word of God and serve the people in remote areas… we are training them for their districts.”
Without MAF, she said, it would all fall apart.
“Sometimes I sit down and think—if MAF wasn’t here in Telefomin, I’d have no students… Because of MAF, I have students here.”
Maggie’s step of faith and passion for health care is becoming a lifeline for students like Sephreid, who are preparing to carry both their faith and medical training into some of Papua New Guinea’s most remote corners.
Sephreid has seen the transformation MAF brings.
“My tumbunas (forefathers) used to walk only. But since there’s an airstrip and MAF commenced to fly in and out, I see trade stores, an aid post, a school. And now I can read and write. I’m very happy to become a health worker.”
To Sephreid, MAF is not just a transport provider.
“I believe MAF is a mission from God. It’s more than a transport service, it’s a life-saving ministry. Through MAF, I’ve seen transformation. I pray that God continues to bless this mission so that it may help even more people in the remotest parts of Papua New Guinea.”
