Papua New Guinea
Restoring Surgical Services at Immanuel Lutheran District Hospital
Immanuel Lutheran District Hospital has been a vital part of the Enga Province since its construction in 1952 by laypeople of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Serving a population of over 91,000, the hospital has long been a cornerstone of healthcare in the region.
Global Health Ministries (GHM) has partnered with Immanuel Hospital in the past and is excited to have recently renewed that partnership. Today, the hospital lacks surgical services, forcing all patients to travel to Wabag General Hospital, a 40–60-minute drive away, or even further to Mt. Hagen Hospital, a three-hour journey. This lack of access is especially critical for pregnant women requiring emergency cesarean sections, putting both mothers and babies at increased risk.
To address this urgent need, GHM is partnering with Immanuel Lutheran District Hospital to restore its surgical capacity through a two-part project:
Operating Room Refurbishment: Essential medical equipment will be purchased to equip the hospital’s two operating theaters—one major and one minor—allowing surgical services to resume. The hospital will own and manage the equipment, with maintenance support from the Enga Provincial Health Authority.
High-Dependency Ward Development: The project will also establish a high-dependency ward, ensuring patients in critical condition receive the specialized care they need.
GHM staff have spent significant time in 2024 reconnecting with hospital leadership, and we are committed to a personal visit to Papua New Guinea in 2025. This renewed partnership with the Good News Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran District Hospital is a crucial step in strengthening healthcare access for this community.
Data from World Health Organization
Meet Dr. Cathy Kai
Dr. Cathy Kai (OBGYN)
Dr. Cathy Kai chose to become a OBGYN specialist when she saw the urgent need to address the high maternal mortality and gynecological deaths in her country. A significant portion (80%) of the population live in rural and remote areas with poor infrastructure and limited access to health care facility. Working in a rural hospital such as Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital (ILRH) gives her the opportunity to directly impact the lives of these rural women and their newborns.
Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital is one of the larger and better equipped facilities in the province however in recent years it has been affected by administrative challenges which has impacted service provision. Currently Dr. Kai is not able to do any surgeries due to the status of the operating theater which means a referral to a provincial hospital a long distance away. Having their own functional operating theater and a fully equipped High Dependency unit for post operative care will immensely improve the level of health care Dr. Kai is able to provide. Dr. Kai became a medical doctor because she always wanted to help others and make a tangible difference in someone’s life.
