Editor’s Note: This article is an article contribution, written by Bridgette Komatep, Media Officer for the PNG Science & Technology Secretariat.
I first met Ludwick Francis in Port Moresby, when he was all dressed up in his gentleman suit, and necktie ready to receive his LOGOHU Award from the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Michael Ogio.
The LOGOHU Award is for Community Service and Mr Ludwig Francis contributions to the Health Sector especially in bringing health services to the remote Baininng area of Gazelle District in East New Britain Province.
Ludwick, age sixty-four (64), was born on 5th September 1952. He comes from Tavui-liu village in Central Gazelle Local level Government area of the Gazelle District, East New Britain province; has three brothers and three sisters.
He was educated up to Grade six and after spending time in the village growing up into a young man, soon ventured out and found employment as a driver with various companies and government agencies, including Works and Supply department, and logging and oil palm companies in neighbouring West New Britain province.
It was there in West New Britain province that he met his wife, primary school teacher, Ms. Anges Ia Tarere from Vunakalkalulu village in the North Coast area of ENB. Together they have 7 children and 23 grandchildren. It was this loving family that has and continues to support Francis throughout his working life to this day.
Francis commenced employment as an Ambulance Driver with the Health Division of the ENB Provincial Government in 1979. Two years later, he was transferred to Kerevat Health Centre where has continued to work for the last thirty-seven (37) years. The Kerevat Health Centre has recently been maintained and upgraded to District hospital status.
Since 1979, this humble and committed Ambulance driver, based at Kerevat Health Centre, spent most of his lifetime, attending to medical needs of the people not only in the Kerevat area but also his efforts and contributions made it possible to connect the remote mountainous Baining people to access basic health services.
Ludwick says even though he was and continues to be a casual driver for the last 37 years, with seven (7) children to support, let alone, an ambulance that is not serviced frequently, these issues have not stopped him from performing his duty passionately.
From attending to transporting pregnant mothers from remote Baining area through to driving badly injured and ill patients to Kerevat Rural Health Centre, Ludwig has assisted through thick and thin.
He says, back in the days, the roads to and from Kerevat were in bad conditions and there were no roads to and from remote Bainning, thus, he would drive along bush tracks and then the health workers would walk for days to bring medical supplies and attend to the sick people in the mountains. He says, those were challenging times but he has, and continues to work passionately for the love of his job.
After 37 years of public service, he was finally recognised for his contributions to the Community and the Health Sector.
On a bright afternoon on October 13, 2016, for the first time, Ludwig Francis walked into the Government House at Konedobu in Port Moresby, very humbled and honoured to receive his award. He was accompanied by two of his brothers.
Mr Francis was among other Papua New Guineans who were also there to receive their respective awards. Ludwig Francis’s story is an example of commitment and sheer hard work over decades to deliver government services throughout Papua New Guinea, and in this case, to the people the people of Baining and Kerevat area of the East New Britain province.
