WHO Papua New Guinea

23/06/2026

Strengthening Public Health Workforce for Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs) in Manila, Philippines

From 8–10 June 2026, the WHO’s Division of Health Systems and Services convened a Training of Trainers workshop to strengthen national workforce capacity to implement Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs) and build resilient health systems. The workshop brought together health workforce leaders and public health professionals from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, as well as partners from WHO, China CDC, the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH), and the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA).

China supported this initiative through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA under the South-South Cooperation Framework. Opening remarks came from WHO WPRO’s DPM Dr. Kidong Park who reiterated WHO’s commitment to ensuring countries had the necessary competencies to implement the EPHFs and Mr. Jiang Chengsen, Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea, emphasized the long-standing and strong partnership between China and Papua New Guinea, highlighting that continued cooperation especially in strengthening the public health workforce is vital for building resilient health systems and improving health outcomes.

Over three productive days, participants explored WHO’s EPHF Roadmap and its tools, including competency-based education, the definition of public health services, and workforce measurement. The workshop highlighted a critical insight: delivering EPHFs goes beyond the core public and clinical health workers but requires collaboration with other allied occupations in the spirit of One Health.

Participants also strengthened their ability to adapt and cascade the EPHF Roadmap within their respective countries, an important step toward building resilient, primary health care–oriented systems through the development of implementation plans.

Mr. Dixon Dimiri, Manager for Health Workforce Standards at Papua New Guinea’s Department of Health, shared: “When disasters or emergencies occur, health workers attend to them and routine service delivery is disrupted. With EPHF and the mapping exercise, we identify partners who can help us so there is continuity of care.”

Looking ahead, the Philippines is well-positioned as a regional hub to support scale-up across Pacific Island countries through the Philippine-Pacific Health Initiative (PhilPAC).

Together, we are building stronger, more resilient health systems capable of preventing disease, promoting health, and responding effectively to emergencies.

17/06/2026

🎥

"We have the capacity."

That's the message Martha Pogo wants communities to hear.

As Acting Expanded Programme on Immunization Manager in Papua New Guinea, she has seen what is possible when health workers, communities, leaders and partners come together around a shared goal.

Her message is simple:

✅ We have the capacity to give every child the chance to grow up healthy and protected.
✅ We can protect communities from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
✅ We can sustain and strengthen immunization for future generations.

Because vaccination is about more than preventing diseases. It helps people stay healthy throughout their lives and strengthens the well-being of families, communities and societies.

Watch Martha share her message to communities across the Region.

14/06/2026

One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives. ❤️

We celebrate World Blood Donor Dayon 14 June and honour the lifesaving generosity of voluntary blood donors.

A single donation can make a life-saving difference—supporting patients in emergencies, surgeries, childbirth, and ongoing treatments.

Be part of this global act of humanity. Donate blood. Save lives.

03/06/2026

High blood pressure can be dangerous, and you may not feel a thing.

It often has no warning signs, but it can quietly damage your heart, brain, and kidneys. That’s why it’s so important to check your blood pressure regularly, learn how to measure it correctly, and know your numbers.

If your blood pressure is high, don’t be afraid to seek treatment — early care can protect your health.
❤️ Follow medical advice and treatment if prescribed
❤️ Check your blood pressure regularly at home or at any health care facility
❤️ Eat a healthy diet — reduce salt, unhealthy fats, and increase dietary fiber
❤️ Stay physically active
❤️ Maintain a healthy weight
❤️ Avoid to***co and limit alcohol intake

Know your numbers. Take control. Stay healthy.

30/05/2026

PNG Governors Unite to End Malaria

Leaders and partners gathered at Parliament Haus, Port Moresby, for the official launch of the PNG Governors Ending Malaria (GEM) Coalition and the National Strategic Plan for Malaria 2026–2030.

The event brought together national leadership and provincial governors, reaffirming a strong commitment to accelerate efforts to eliminate malaria in Papua New Guinea. Highlights included the official signing of the Call to Action by governors and the launch of a new national strategy setting a clear pathway towards a malaria-free future.

WHO Papua New Guinea welcomes this important milestone, reflecting strong national and provincial leadership united behind a shared vision of a malaria-free Papua New Guinea by 2035. 🇵🇬

28/05/2026

Strengthening leadership to end tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬

The Inaugural High-Level Advocacy Training for PNG TB Caucus Members and the Special Parliamentary Committee on Health Matters, held at the State Function Room, National Parliament, Port Moresby, brought together Parliamentarians, the National Department of Health, Treasury, WHO PNG, the Parliamentary Media Team, and development partners.

The training focused on strengthening political leadership and coordinated national action to address tuberculosis (TB) in Papua New Guinea.

A key highlight from WHO PNG emphasized the strong return on investment in TB programmes — demonstrating that investments in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment deliver significant economic, social, and public health benefits for communities and the country.

Together, through strong leadership and partnership, PNG can end TB.

28/05/2026

26/05/2026

🇵🇬 WHO PNG and NTP Advance Drug-Resistant TB Treatment Scale-Up

📅 26–28 May 2026

WHO Papua New Guinea, in partnership with the National TB Program and with financial support from the Australian Government (DFAT), is conducting a national three-day workshop on BPaL/BPaLM and BEAT regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Bringing together 52 participants from seven provinces, the workshop is building clinical and programmatic capacity for rolling out these shorter, all-oral DR-TB regimens in line with current WHO guidance.

Provinces are developing concrete implementation plans, strengthening pharmacovigilance mechanisms, and defining clear pathways for scale-up — a critical step forward in PNG’s fight against DR-TB.

21/05/2026

HRH Policy and Strategy Review at Airways Hotel
The National Department of Health (NDOH) is conducting a review of the Human Resources for Health (HRH) Policy and Strategic Plan 2021–2030 from 18–22 May 2026 at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby. The activity is conducted under the NDOH-WHO-DFAT Partnership 2025–2028.
The review has brought together NDOH divisions, key stakeholders, regulatory bodies, health training institutions, and development partners to assess progress and identify priority actions for the remaining implementation period through to 2030.
Discussions focused on strengthening PNG’s health workforce through improved governance systems, stronger regulatory capacity, accelerated recruitment processes, better retention in rural areas, stronger data systems, and sustainable financing.
Health Secretary Mr. Pascoe Kase, together with partners Dr. Masahiro Zakoji (WHO), Ms. Lizzy Jenkins (DFAT), and Dr. Veera Mendoza (UNICEF), emphasized the critical role of human resources in strengthening Papua New Guinea’s health system and improving health service delivery across the country.

18/05/2026

WHA79 opens today in Geneva, bringing together health leaders from around the world under the theme: “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility."

We proudly congratulate the Minister for Health of Papua New Guinea, Hon. Elias Kapavore on being elected as one of the five Vice Presidents of the 79th World Health Assembly—amplifying the voice of PNG and the Pacific in global health decision making.

Together, countries are shaping a more equitable, resilient and inclusive global health future.