Yambaitok Health Centre has been rebuilt from durable materials (credit: MAF PNG)

As we continue to celebrate 75 years of MAF in Papua New Guinea, MAF’s Kowara Bell investigates how flying in building materials for a new health centre has been a gamechanger for Yambaitok – an isolated village in PNG’s highlands…

Surrounded by mountains, dense forest, and flanked by two rivers, Yambaitok is incredibly remote.

Located deep within Yuat Valley which borders East Sepik and Enga provinces, Yambaitok is not serviced by any roads. Even though the tiny village is close to the Yuat River, no boats from the coast can access it.

Yambaitok is surrounded by mountains, forests and two rivers (credit: Kowara Bell)

Aerial view of Yambaitok (credit: Kowara Bell)

The only way to access Yambaitok is by foot or by plane.

The regional hospital is based in Kompiam, but from Yambaitok, it’s a five-day walk.

For years, the people of Yambaitok, and other surrounding villages, relied on their own ‘health centre’ – a building on wooden stilts with walls, floor and ceiling fashioned from dried woven bush materials.

Its only room doubled up as a drug store and consultation area. The examination bed was a piece of cardboard on the floor. Privacy was rare.

The old clinic was made from bush material, which didn’t last (credit: Diana Zwijnenburg)

The one room building was both a drugstore & examination area (credit: D.Zwijnenburg)

The building – not fit for purpose – was old and had begun to rot. The elements hadn’t been kind.

But how do you rebuild critical infrastructure in the middle of nowhere with no hardware store in sight? Carrying heavy materials and equipment by hand over inhospitable terrain is practically impossible!

MAF is the easiest and quickest way to access Yambaitok (credit: Kowara Bell)

A 20-minute flight saves a 5-day hike

In October 2025, MAF’s P2-AFD aircraft began transporting 2.4 tonnes of construction materials to build a new health centre.

Ten flights later, a strong structure made from steel replaces the rickety old building.

P2-AFD’s flights from Kompiam to Yambaitok only take 20 minutes instead of five days on foot.

P2-AFD delivers 2.4 tonnes of building materials (credit: Jan Klassen)

Locals enthusiastically carry parts of the new building (credit: Jan Klassen)

Today, the new building boasts a labour ward, several rooms to accommodate patients, and an outpatient area. These improved facilities will transform healthcare in the region.

Pastor Jackson Minao is the chaplain at Kompiam District Hospital, which spearheaded the Yambaitok Health Centre building project – one of several new health centres to be rolled out across the region. He explains why MAF is a lifeline:

‘In Kompiam District, where our health services are located, we heavily depend on MAF. In Yambaitok, there are no road connections to the hospital.

‘If MAF doesn’t operate, there is no other option to build clinics, transfer patients to and from hospital (medevacs), or send health staff to communities.

‘Many timber buildings have collapsed, so this time, we’re not using timber. We’re opting for steel to ensure the new health centre lasts longer. That’s why we’re flying in these materials.

‘MAF has been incredibly helpful in many ways – we solely depend on MAF for everything.’

Pastor Jackson Minao, Chaplain at Kompiam District Hospital

The new building begins to take shape (credit: MAF PNG)

Hardy materials replace substandard ones (credit: MAF PNG)

Yambaitok Health Centre relies on MAF to bring basic medication and supplies such as dressing for wounds, local anaesthetic, surgical thread for stitches, and a range of drugs from paracetamol to antimalarials. Without replenishment, the health centre would be pointless.

MAF enables the health centre to be stocked with medicine (credit: Kowara Bell)

Patrick is now better equipped to support 6,000 people

Patrick Dickson is one of 22 community health workers across Enga Province, supported by Kompiam District Hospital. He’s been practising basic healthcare for nearly nine years.

Seven years ago, Patrick returned to his home village of Yambaitok where he had been working out of the old, dilapidated health centre, supporting around 6,000 people in Yambaitok and beyond. He describes the enormity of his work:

‘We have no road link. There are no other health facilities nearby. Most neighbouring communities come to Yambaitok, which is centrally located and free from conflict.

‘On a normal a day, I see around 20 patients. In a month, it can reach about 400 with many of them walking for hours just to get help.

‘When someone is in a critical condition and in need of a medevac, MAF works 24 hours to serve us.’

Patrick Dickson plays a crucial role between his people & MAF (credit: Tajs Jespersen)

Another part of Patrick’s job is to organise medevacs for patients in need of emergency medical care from Yambaitok to Kompiam District Hospital. To facilitate this, he mostly contacts MAF via HF radio.

Patrick is grateful for the new building, which has transformed his work:

‘I now look after sick patients in a proper building! I want to thank God, MAF and Kompiam Hospital for their good work.

‘Through God’s strength, I will be able to look after hundreds of people in this remote area.’

Patrick Dickson, Community Health Worker at Yambaitok Health Centre

Yambaitok Health Centre is also used as one of the bases during Kompiam’s Aerial Health Patrols across Enga Province. This is when doctors and nurses are flown by MAF from Kompiam District Hospital out to smaller isolated villages like Yambaitok to treat patients in the absence of proper hospitals and fully qualified medical practitioners.

Kompiam District Hospital oversees 10 health centres across Enga Province including Yambaitok. The Aerial Health Patrols – facilitated by MAF – rotate between villages so that everyone has access to basic healthcare across the province.

Villagers like Jenny directly benefit from the partnership between MAF and Kompiam District Hospital:

‘I am thankful to see the doctors and nurses helping our children, mothers, those with minor illnesses, and providing us with the medication we need.

‘I thank MAF for bringing health workers to Yambaitok. Without MAF, we would not have received any medical help.’  

Last year, MAF flew over 280 passengers to and from Yambaitok including health practitioners with vital medical supplies.

Jenny & her children will benefit from the new health centre (credit: Kowara Bell)

To find out more about MAF’s incredible work in Papua New Guinea, listen to episode 15 of MAF’s podcast: ‘75 years of help, hope and healing in PNG’