A community leader from Karkar Island in Madang province is calling for urgent action to restore the sea ambulance serving island communities in Sumkar District, warning that lives are at risk while the vessel remains out of operation.

Tony Dibul said families on Karkar and Bagabag islands rely heavily on Gaubin Lutheran Hospital as their main referral health facility.

“For many families, Gaubin is the first and often only place to seek medical help during an emergency,” he said.

However, when cases go beyond the hospital’s capacity — including complicated childbirth, serious injuries and other life-threatening conditions — patients must be urgently transferred to Madang.

“That is where the sea ambulance becomes critical. Without it, we are gambling with people’s lives,” Dibul said.

He said that without the dedicated medical vessel, families are forced to use small boats to cross rough seas, often without medical supervision.

Dibul is urging the District Administration and Madang Provincial Health Authority to urgently repair and maintain the vessel, ensure funding for fuel, and strengthen emergency transfer systems between Gaubin and Madang.

He stressed that restoring the sea ambulance is not just a maintenance issue, but a matter of life and death for island communities.