The Wire

“Kokoda” is a name which holds special meaning for many Australians. In 1942, the Japanese advance towards Australia was halted on the Kokoda Track through the cooperation of the Papuan People and the Australian Armed Forces. In 1995, AUSAID, at the request of then Prime Minister Paul Keating, commissioned Rotary Australia to build a hospital at Kokoda, as a memorial to the historic event. Today, however, the hospital has one permanent member of staff for over 200 visitors per day, and lacks basic medical supplies such as rubber gloves, bandages, syringes and antibiotics. Although problems such as AIDS are on the increase in the Pacific region, the maintenance of health facilities such as the Kokoda Memorial Hospital has taken a back seat. This year’s federal budget increased aid by $239 million, but this was directed towards improving policing and security in the Pacific. Ed Giles spoke to Rotarian John Thurgar, who has been involved in the Kokoda Memorial Hospital project since 1995. Tim O’Connor from AIDWATCH says there are deeper problems with Australia’s International Aid Program in that it falls under the department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, while Matt Anderson from the Australian High Comission in Port Moresby says hospital maintenance is now up to the PNG government.