A Tragic Sight in New Guinea



After staying with the Bensbach River people in New Guinea, Alby travelled up into the highlands. He accompanied some missionaries into the most remote villages in the highlands, accessible only by air - and even that access left a lot to be desired (a typical landing strip was a 500 metre clearing scraped out of the side of a mountain, with massive drops on either end).

Disease was apparently rife. This woman from a village called Sisserman had the gangrenous tropical ulcer you can see in the photograph. It had eaten its way to the bone. Alby treated her from his medical kit, but knew that unless she was flown out to receive proper attention, she would lose the leg, or worse still, her life.

The look on Alby's face says it all. He says that he felt useless for the little he could do.

Take me home, country road!