Student shares what it means to have toothpaste and a toothbrush through the SDP - MAF partnership that delivered thousands of dental kits to Western Province communities in Papua New Guinea during the past year.
Story by Linsey Painter
Balimo High School student Jermilah Saeniya had to borrow toothpaste from her siblings and sometimes she simply went to class without being able to brush her teeth in the morning.
But the delivery of dental kits through the Sustainable Development Program (SDP) flown by MAF in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province, has changed life and helped people in isolated communities to look after their smiles.
Year 9 student Jermilah talked about the difference the kits have made for her.
Brushing my teeth every morning has helped to improve the problems I had with my teeth
“At home, I used to borrow Colgate to brush my teeth. Sometimes I had to go to school without brushing my teeth because I didn't want to ask around,” she said.
“When they issued the Colgate and toothbrush to us at our school, I didn’t have to ask my older siblings and others for Colgate. Brushing my teeth every morning has helped to improve the problems I had with my teeth.”
Around 12,000 dental kits were delivered to 74 remote communities in Western Provinceduring 2024 as part of SDP’s WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Program. The WASH program, run by the Aerial Health Patrols (AHP), focuses on giving the communities sustainable tools to improve health and hygiene.
SDP has 12 patrol teams based in Balimo, a town in the southeast of the province where MAF has a base. From Balimo, MAF flies the patrol teams out to the remote communities.
Yanu Kagayo, a WASH officer, shared the journey the dental kits undergo to reach the remote communities.
“The dental kits are sometimes delivered by ship, sometimes by plane from Moresby to Balimo,” said Yanu. “From there, we pack the toothpaste and brushes in our boxes and fly them out with MAF. It is only by MAF that we can reach the communities.
“All the WASH officers take out Colgate kits to the schools and the communities. We talk to the kids about why it's important to brush our teeth and what happens if we don't brush our teeth.”
Local man Simon Wakili is MAF’s senior traffic officer in Balimo. Having completed his schooling in the north of the Western Province in the town of Kiunga, Simon was able to return to his home and work with MAF.
“My favourite project is helping the health patrols,” said Simon. “We drop off the health patrols into the rural communities on Mondays and Tuesdays. And we do the pickups on Thursdays and Fridays and it's very good.
“While growing up, we observed how our health and education services were running. It was something that really needed much more improvement. As a local, I really appreciate the work that SDP is doing through the health and education programs they are running.”
Patrol services manager Marilyn Jimmy has been working with the health patrols in Balimo since 2021.
“MAF has been our biggest partner, and we really appreciate their support and effort,” she said. “Our basic aim is to reach the communities, and we rely on MAF to reach this goal.”
The Colgate kits distribution is an initiative implemented by SDP in partnership with MAF, Sago Network and Colgate Palmolive in Western Province, Papua New Guinea.