With support from the Government of the United States of America, Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment), an American NGO, sent medical supplies and equipment to the PNG Defense Forces. U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Walter North, presented these materials to the PNG Defense Force (PNGDF) Military Hospital on Thursday, December 11. PNGDF Commander, Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo, was on hand to accept the medical supplies on behalf of the hospital.

The medical supplies and equipment, valued at 200,000 U.S. dollars (K500, 000) included dental equipment, medical supplies, pediatric provisions, and hospital furniture.

“The equipment is timely for our hospital as it was upgraded two years ago from a health clinic to a hospital that now provides medical care for up to 150 patients a day,” said Commanding Officer of the PNGDF Military Hospital, Lieutenant Colonel Mathew Kasap.

Project C.U.R.E. is the registered trademark of the Benevolent Healthcare Foundation, a non-profit humanitarian relief organization, which is based in the United States. Project C.U.R.E. is one of the largest providers of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world. The organization collects and sorts donated medical supplies and equipment from manufacturers, hospitals, and surpluses and then distribute the supplies and equipment to developing countries based on needs assessments of local hospitals and clinics in those countries.