Children and infants across Madang Province will receive improved life-saving medical care following the official handover of critical paediatric and neonatal equipment on Monday, November 10, to Modilon General Hospital, funded through the PNG Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNGCORE) Charity Golf Challenge Program.
Using approximately PGK316,000 in net proceeds from the 2025 Charity Golf Challenge, specialised respiratory, neonatal, and paediatric equipment was purchased to strengthen emergency response and improve treatment outcomes for critically ill young patients.
Speaking at the handover, PNG Chamber of Resources & Energy (PNGCORE) Executive Director, Richard Kassman OBE, paid tribute to the hospital’s medical workforce, emphasizing that medical tools are only as effective as the people who use them.
"While we are pleased to help provide these medical tools, the real heroes are the doctors, nurses, and health workers at Modilon General Hospital who show up every day with unwavering dedication to save lives," said Mr. Kassman. "Their commitment to caring for Madang’s children under challenging circumstances is truly inspiring. Our role is simply to stand behind them and ensure they have the resources they need to do what they do best."
Mr. Kassman also noted how a strong, active resources and energy sector directly enables greater economic and social support for local communities.
"A vibrant and thriving industry is what makes initiatives like this possible," Mr. Kassman said. "When our resources and energy sector is strong and growing, it generates the economic momentum and capacity for businesses to contribute more to the national economy, expand corporate social responsibility programs, and deliver meaningful community development. Simply put, a successful industry enables us to give back more—supporting vital public services like healthcare and standing alongside the people who serve our communities."
Thanking the 33 corporate sponsors and community partners whose support made the donation possible, Mr. Kassman added:
"We are deeply grateful to our sponsors across the resources, energy, financial, and business sectors whose generosity has helped back these frontline teams. When industry and community partners unite, we can help lighten the load for our healthcare workers and give young patients the best possible chance at recovery."
The Charity Golf Challenge's expansion was made possible through 33 organisations across the resources, energy, professional services, financial services, insurance, and community sectors, including major contributors K92 Mining Limited, Sun Engineering, and McMonagle Qld and Santos Limited.
Modilon Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Martin Daimen, welcomed the new diagnostic and respiratory tools, noting that the equipment will immediately strengthen the clinical team's emergency response, neonatal resuscitation, and daily care across Madang Province.
"On behalf of our doctors, nurses, clinical teams, and the families we serve, I extend our sincere gratitude to every organisation that contributed to this initiative," said Dr. Daimen.
"These resources will directly support our staff as they respond to medical emergencies, perform neonatal resuscitation, and manage respiratory distress for our most vulnerable patients. The impact of this support will be felt by families across Madang Province for years to come."
The first batch of equipment includes advanced respiratory support systems, such as Fisher & Paykel Bubble CPAP machines and Airvo™ 3 Humidified High Flow devices for infants in respiratory distress, alongside nebulisers, clinical thermometers, nursing stethoscopes, manual and digital paediatric blood pressure cuffs, and other diagnostic tools. Remaining items will arrive in the coming weeks.
This contribution marks the second major provincial healthcare project delivered through the Charity Golf Challenge. Following the Port Moresby tournament on 17 July 2026, the next Charity Golf Challenge is scheduled for 27 November 2026 during PNG Investment Week in Sydney, Australia, with funds being set aside to support a third provincial hospital in 2027.