Water, Hands, and Hope

Aloha! My name is James Ham, and I'm a former Army emergency physician who just started working with my friends Dr. Larry and Aarlie Hull to reduce socioeconomic and health disparities of the children and people of the Jiwaka and Western Highlands Provinces of Papua New Guinea - one of the poorest, most dangerous, and most hard-to-reach places in the world. Larry and Aarlie have been there for many years, and their ongoing projects including a community clinic and birthing center, a library and literacy center, and a reliable and sustainable program for clean water and sanitation infrastructure and education.

Using my background and working with the provincial hospital and public health authority, I was able to develop specific educational projects involving first responder training, acute trauma care, cardiac resuscitation, and (my favorite) fitting prosthetic hands onto victims of violence. Future projects include improving community midwifery practices, educating and empowering girls and women, improving childhood vaccination programs, and accident prevention.

Specifically, I'm asking for your help to raise enough financial support to bring an ultrasound machine, a defibrillator, additional medical supplies and equipment, tablet computers with digital text books and references, more prosthetic hands, and hopefully more volunteers. We can't do this alone, and we could really use your help. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, suggestions, items you'd like to donate, or if you would like to join us on this epic adventure.

Thank you so much for your support!

James Ham, MD
Honolulu, HI