MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce Australia will fund two new major development cooperation initiatives to assist Papua New Guinea.
The first is the $50 million five year Rural Health Program which will help to re-establish and upgrade rural health facilities, and boost PNG's ability to plan, manage and monitor rural health services.
The Government of PNG has identified the need for a major focus on improving health services to rural communities. This is in response to high levels of maternal and child mortality and unacceptably high rates of preventable disease.
Initially focussing on six provinces - Central, Gulf, Morobe, Sandaun, Western and Western Highlands - the Program may include other provinces on a rolling basis.
The Program will start by focusing on urgent activities identified by PNG - such as assisting provinces and districts to plan and budget, defining roles and responsibilities of health agencies and identifying areas for legislative and policy reform
It will operate at all levels of the health sector, including church based health services and other non-government service providers who are the main providers of rural health services in PNG.
The Program will also include support from health personnel from Australian State and regional health authorities who will be 'twinned' to provinces in PNG where the Rural Health Program will operate. Apart from their involvement in the design of the overall Program, these Australian based health authorities will provide short and long term advisers.
It's also hoped that it will be possible to involve Australian regional communities through non-government organisations such as women's groups and churches 'twinning' with similar bodies in Rural Health Program provinces in PNG.
The second initiative is to provide long term agricultural support by contributing $14 million through the Australian aid program towards the establishment of a National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI).
Eighty five percent or 3.5 million Papua New Guineans live in rural areas and rely on agricultural production for their livelihood.
NARI will enhance the wellbeing of PNG food producers through improved productivity, quality and market place competitiveness through the delivery of high quality agricultural research.
So far Australia has contributed over $3 million to PNG's drought relief effort and we are committed to providing our northern neighbour with whatever assistance is necessary to overcome the effects of its present crisis. However, through our commitment to funding these longer term measures, we are assisting the people of PNG to cope better with natural disasters like the current frost and drought conditions in the future.
Papua New Guinea
Media contact:
Innes Willox (Minister's Office) 0411 414 695
Annmaree O'Keeffe (AusAID PNG) 0011 675 693 9800/
Robin Scott-Charlton (AusAID PNG) 0011 675 693 9801
Mark Giffard (AusAID) (02) 6206 4966