After decades of isolation, MAF brings new hope to the remote Carteret Islands by installing their first ever high-frequency (HF) radio system, enabling health staff to connect to the outside world, and improving healthcare outcomes for local people.
Story by Kowara Bell
Having served four years as the officer in charge of Han health clinic in the Carteret islands, Sister Bernice Kumis knows well the challenges of reliable communication and transportation when referring patients to the main island of Bougainville.
“The Carteret Islands are isolated and are very far from the mainland,” she said. “We can only travel by boat, and we manage to stay here and care for the patients.”
Situated 113 km east of Buka island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the Carteret Islands are accessible only by small boats and require a four-hour crossing of open sea.
MAF Technologies in Bougainville, in partnership with Catholic Health Services, has supported several remote health clinics through a donor-funded initiative by installing high-frequency (HF) radios that allow regular reporting, ordering of supplies and faster response times in emergency situations.
“The work MAF are doing will really help us and meet some of our needs, and this is exactly what our facility has been waiting for,” Bernice said. “So, thank you MAF.”
Ann Sari, a nursing officer at the clinic, sees firsthand how vital an HF radio is for the community.
“The main thing I want to focus on is effective communication,” she said. “Since I’ve been here, there hasn’t been any communication at all. This is a big change, and I appreciate it very much.”
Ann added that instead of waiting for medical officers from the mainland to travel to the island, they can now connect instantly via HF radio, making it easier to handle clinical matters.
Beside the HF radio installation, the island community received other immediate benefits under the ‘Bringing Light to Bougainville’ project, which is funded by the Pharus Foundation. These included an extensive solar lighting system for the entire clinic, and the supply of bilingual Bibles and audio Bibles for distribution by local people.
Speaking on this, MAF Technologies technician Noah Siso observed the hand of God at work, seeing how these services bring light and hope to the people and reflect God’s care.
“The Lord is present and is helping them through the mission we are carrying out, and we become tools for the Lord to use for His glory, while at the same time helping the people,” Noah said after spending more than a week on the island conducting the install.
More than 2000 people who rely on this local health clinic will directly benefit from the improved communication and enhanced services provided by MAF and its partners.
The Torokina, Han, Haisi, and Kuraio communities were the first four inland and island communities to receive the HF radio and solar lighting installations from February through to March 2026.