BY CARLEEN FROST

A TEAM OF DOCTORS from Sydney’s northern beaches has delivered life-saving cardiac defibrillators to two hospitals in NewIreland.

Members of the Manly-based Australian Doctors International recently travelled to New Ireland to deliver the equipment and ensure hospital staff could use it correctly.

ADI president Peter Macdonald, a Manly councillor and former NSW State MP, said PNG endured standards of living comparable to Kenya and Bangladesh, despite being Australia’s closest neighbour.

“These defibrillators will be used by the two hospitals in New Ireland, an isolated island region and tourist surfing destination, which has just 10 local doctors for 160,000 people,” Dr Macdonald said.

“Almost half of the population is infected with malaria and many others have tuberculosis, whilst to make matters worse, heart disease is becoming increasingly common due to the availability of fatty, sugary Western foods.”

Although the cardiac defibrillators were delivered by the charity, they were donated by medical supply company Device Technologies.

Managing director Kevin Ryan said the company had a special interest in providing critical care. “Device Technologies recognises the efforts of Australian Doctors International in PNG and is proud to be able to support this very worthy cause,” he said.

Photo: Peter MacDonald  hands over a cardiac defibrillator

Source: Manly Daily, Sydney