Br. Ben gets the message across. She ain't heavy, she's my sister! A Lesson in accessablility
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18th April 2007
National Disabled Day
Br. Ben gets the message across.
She ain't heavy, she's my sister!
A Lesson in accessablility
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23rd February 2007
Disabled Seminar in Port Moresby.
There was a Disabled Seminar in Port Moresby from 9-16 February 2007. Delegates marched from the Holiday Inn to the John Guise Statium and got plenty of attention. Mary Tresa attended with some of the helpers from the Senta. She was able to do some networking. The Government is apparently offering some money for the disabled.
Fiona Pilo meeting the Prime Minister.
Mary Tresa.
Yawari mudmen.
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The pictures show Fiona Pilo, who is one of the teachers of the deaf in the Senta meeting the prime minister, and Mary Tresa leading the march, behind the Yawari mudmen. This has been good publicity for the Senta.
10th October 2006
Mary Tresa arrives at the Senta.
Mary Tresa has arrived to be the clinical director of the Senta. Mary Tresa comes from southern India and is a nurse with wide experience in managing the disabled and working in rural areas.
Father Phil Smith and Dr Elizabeth Lewis arrived in Vanimo with Mary Tresa on 4th September 2006. There was a welcoming party at the airport and then a special lunch next day at the Senta. The icecream at the lunch was kindly supplied by Brother James and was a big hit with the kids.
Mary Tresa's first look.
Welcome Mary Tresa.
Icecream is very welcome
Icecream is very popular
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Mary Tresa has settled in and is working with Brother Ben and Florence to extend the support given to the children. She was introduced to the Board of the Senta Bilong Helpim and will take her place as a member.
Noreen Tom and Vicki Avai from Dame Carol Kidu department visited the Senta between 8th and 14th September and were very impressed by the level of support given to the children. They made a generous donation of 6,000 kina from the government.
The kids with the new buses.
Memebers of the board.
Noreen Tom and Vicki Avei.
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2rd July 2006
Dr Murnane and Dr Lewis visit the Senta.
Dr Merrilyn Murnane and Dr Elizabeth Lewis visited the Senta Bilong Helpim in June 2006. We started our visit to PNG with a meeting with Dame Carol Kidu,
the minister for Community Development. Disability services are in her portfolio. We had a good hearing and she is keen to use the Senta as a
flagship for the supply of disabled services in the country. She is keen to see the Senta in September when Dr Lewis returns for the passionists synod. Hopefully she will go to Vanimo with us then.
(Left to right in the photo below left, are Dr. Elizabeth Lewis, Father Phil Smith, Dame Carol Kidu (Minister), Jean Eparo (Disabled Desk)
Joesph Klapat (Secretary of Deptartment) and Dr. Merrilyn Murnane.
Meeting with Dame Carol Kidu.
The Japanese Memorial at Wewak.
Handover of Rotary money to Father Phill Smith.
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The Senta continues under the day to day management of Bro Ben. The Board under chairman John Barry meets regularly. In early September Mary Tresa arrives from India to run the Senta She is a nurse with many skills which will enhance our clinical programmes. She is also keen to improve the teaching and training of our helpers, perhaps linked to Callan services in Wewak.
We also spent time in Wewak and Madang meeting people from Callan services and the Divine Word University. It is important to link with all the groups providing disabled services in the country.
The Market at Wewak.
The new wheelchair being tested.
Physiotherapy School, Divine Word University, Madang.
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The next main thrust of fundraising is for education of the children and training of the helpers This will make the Senta self sustainable. Mr Max Griffiths from Carlton Rotary joined us on this trip. Rotary is interested in helping in the country and has already been involved in projects such as water tanks and mosquito nets. Max hopes to interest Rotary in other major projects, and on this occasion presented $8,000 to Father Phil Smith for the Solar panels at the Senta..
25th March 2006
Brother Ben's day at the Senta.
Each day at Monday to Friday at 7-15am I drive along the road picking up the children from town and nearby settlements. The bus arrives at the Senta by 9 am. We then have morning prayer followed by 30 minutes game. Later the children go to their respective groups according to the nature of their disabilities, and get ready for their normal classes. This is all done by the helpers.
At 1pm every Thursday we do a special programme, Community based rehabilitation {CBR} along the West coast road to Wutung. The helpers wanted to go into the bush areas also, but the cost of airfares makes it impossible. I spend most of my time at the Senta making sure the needs of the Senta are met and that it is operating well.
The generator is an ongoing problem, and the phone system is very bad. Some fuel was stolen recently. There are 37 children at the Senta and 20 helpers.I really enjoy working with the children, and the helpers. Recently we had a talk given to the parents on sexual abuse and family violence by the Department of Welfare, 43 attended. We are also preparing to host the National Disabled Day in Vanimo town on 29th March 2006.
16th January 2006
Dr. Lewis's Update
Dr Merrilyn Murnane, Dr Elizabeth Lewis and Mr Max Griffiths [representative of Carlton Rotary] visited the Senta in mid November. Since Brother James had left a number of problems started to appear. The staff were unsure of what was happening as James had left suddenly and they had not been told if or when he would be back. After meetings with the Senta staff and the Board we were able to reassure them that the Passionists retained an interest in the Senta [affirmed by Father Phil Smith] and the support group remained committed to providing support.
Teaching the children.
Teaching the children.
The garden has grown.
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Stabilisation of the Senta was our priority. The Board has decided that there should be a representative of the Passionists on the Board as well as a representative of the Diocese. Brother Ben will look after the day to day financial services and the monthly accounts will go to Father Phil. We will promote an ongoing relationship between the Senta and Vanimo General Hospital to allow sharing of medical and physio services. Harry will continue to look after the general services and Florence the care of the children.
Medical Examination by Dr. Murnane.
The Senta is fun !!
Melvin with a problem.
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A new bus will need to be bought, and a more reliable power supply.[the generator had been out of order since February so there was no power for fans, pool or woodwork] When we left there was a backup generator in use. In spite of all these problems we saw many children attending the Senta , Dr Murnane examined all the new children and we checked the programmes. It would be good to get a physio up there as soon as possible to supervise the rehabilitation programmes. Hopefully though Max Griffiths we can get some financial support for the equipment needs. The Senta needs your support as ever, there are so many children who can be helped. A few of them are seen in the pictures taken on our trip.
The workers of the Senta.
Physio continues.
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