Author: Frank Ani

The Board and Management of Southern Cross Assurance Limited (SCAL) are delighted to partner with the Papua New Guinea Nurses Association (PNGNA) with a comprehensive medical cover that will benefit over 4,000 of its members and their dependents.

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. They play a vital role in providing compassionate care, educating communities to prevent the spread of illnesses, and treating the sick, often while working in highly stressful environments to support doctors and other hospital staff.

Our wonderful PNG nurses work hard and tirelessly to care for others; therefore, it is important to provide a way to ensure their medical care needs are supported too. “It is our honour to now be able to support our PNG nurses, in return for their tireless dedication towards caring for others” said Srirangan Kalyanarangan, CEO of SCAL.

SCAL believes that providing this medical insurance is a major step towards improving their employment benefits. SCAL hopes to give the registered nurses and their families a greater peace of mind by providing a way to ease the burden of their own medical expenses.

“All I want is for my nurses to be well looked after, and I want to thank SCAL for accepting our terms and conditions to tailor their medical insurance policy according to our requirements”, said PNGNA President Frederick Kebai.

The medical insurance policy covers a wide variety of services, including treatment for acute illnesses, pregnancy, dental and optical care, and also includes emergency medical evacuations.

“SCAL sincerely thanks the PNG Nurses Association for the opportunity to partner with a locally owned insurer, and it is my honour to welcome PNG Nurses Association on board. SCAL values this partnership and we look forward to growing this partnership in the years to come,” said SCAL Chairman Roxon Undi.

The Board and Management of Southern Cross Assurance (SCAL) are pleased to announce the appointment of our new Underwriting Manager, Mr Brandon Govender. Brandon hails from South Africa and has over a decade of experience in underwriting and client servicing with major brokers and insurers across the African market.

Brandon holds insurance certifications from INSETA (South Africa’s Insurance training institute) and has clocked a decade of solid experience with leading firms like AON South Africa and Iemas Insurance Brokers (now trading as iMas Insurance Brokers). Brandon has extensive hands-on experience in managing major risks in commercial ventures, government projects and the resource sector. Prior to joining SCAL he was the Senior Underwriting Consultant and Renewals Specialist at PSG Financial Services where he had direct oversight over 21 branches.

Brandon brings a wealth of overseas technical experience and client servicing standards to SCAL. A key part of his role as Underwriting Manager, will be to oversee and assist with general underwriting functions and to ensure SCAL’s underwriting service is delivered with great professionalism to all our clients and brokers.

SCAL’s CEO, Mr Srirangan, said: ”With this addition, we are evolving into a stronger and more capable team that is ready to offer the highest standard of insurance solutions tailored to PNG’s market needs. I have no doubt he will be a valuable asset to our SCAL family, and I look forward to working closely with him. Once again, welcome aboard Brandon, and wish you all the best.”