PNG Ministry of Health-HIV/AIDS

15/09/2020

Today the 16th of September 2020, Papua New Guinea celebrates our 45th year of Independence.

Independence means different things to different people – but ultimately independence is being in control of our own destiny.

If our destiny is our future – it is about controlling what we want our future to look like. Our history does not define us, nor does it define our destiny.

Independence should not be just about looking back at to 1975. It should be about where we have been, where we are now and looking forward to what we want to build for our families, our communities and our country.

As we celebrate our 45th Independence – lets challenge our selves to focus on our future
Let us look towards our Golden Jubilee in 2025 and set real goals for where we would love to be as a country when we turn 50.

On behalf of my family, my people of Gazelle District and the Ministry of Health and HIV AIDS

I wish us all a very Happy 45th Independence
God bless you all and God Bless Papua New Guinea

15/09/2020

12/08/2020

This is a new learning platform that was developed by the Dept of Health, DFAT and JID (previously known as Johnstaff). It is a great initiative that offers COVID specific training to health practitioners all across PNG.

08/07/2020

Funds for the payment of Church health workers salaries is expected to be released this week, According to Health Minister Jelta Wong K20 million for salaries will be paid out this week while funds...

15/04/2020

PRESS RELEASE

Sunday 12th April 2020

Minister Wong praises World Bank for swift financing support for COVID-19 fight in PNG

Health/HIV-AIDS Minister Hon Jelta Wong today praised the timely efforts of the World Bank executives that have swiftly gave assurance for the PNG COVID-19 Emergency Response Project to precede.

The initial progress of completing the PNG COVID-19 Emergency Response Project dossier took five weeks.
Minister Wong said this support will surely elevate the current progress of the National Government in its efforts to combat COVID-19 cases in the country. This approval reflects the support of World Bank towards this Global Pandemic and indeed to our efforts in Papua New Guinea via the implementation roll out of the approved COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the efforts of my staff at the National Department of Health, Treasury, Prime Minister and National Executive Council, World Health Organization, World Bank PNG Office and other key Departments who have contributed to completing and submitting the PNG COVID-19 Emergency Response Project dossier,” Minister Wong stressed.

“The time and energy put in by these dedicated officers have produced a favorable response by the World Bank Board in Washington DC early this morning. This is timely news as our country moves to celebrate Easter in a way never experienced before. It is a giant leap in the progress for PNG in our efforts to tackle the COVID-19 that has the potential to cripple our already depressed economy.”

Minister Wong assured that his colleague Treasury Minister Ian Ling Stuckey will be working with him together to ensure all requirements and formalities without delay to allow signing of the Loan Agreement for facility effectiveness and roll-out of identified focus areas contained in the approved National Health Department COVID-19 Emergency Plan.

Thank you and God Bless

Hon Jelta Wong, MP
Minister for Health and HIV AIDS

APPROVED FOR RELEASE

12/04/2020

Sunday 12th April 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

Minister Wong pleased with completion of Eastern Highlands, Morobe and NCD Quarantine Facilities

“Government is keen on COVID-19 Emergency and Preparedness “

Health-HIV/AIDS Minister Hon Jelta Wong is pleased with the completion and progress of three quarantine facilities in three provinces of the country.

Minister Wong said, under the extended State of Emergency to June 2nd 2020, the government must maintain control and greater visibility of the efforts and partnerships at the subnational level.

“This is important to ensure we maintain a single and unified Command and Control of the State of Emergency under the Controller and his two deputies. All provinces must have in place by now their respective COVID-19 State of Emergency Response Task Force to coordinate and oversee emergency orders issued from time to time by the SOE Controller.”

Minister Wong said pivotal to this is to localise and oversee the roll out of the approved National Department of Health COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan indeed particularly as it relates to core focus areas including;
1. Emergency Epidemic Surveillance and Monitoring,
2. Laboratory and Diagnostic Services,
3. Public Health Services,
4. Infrastructure Capacity Development particularly for Quarantine and Isolation Facilities,
5. Infection Control and Management Training,
6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
7. Community Health Advocacy and Awareness, and,
8. COVID-19 Administration and Coordination.

Minister Wong praised all Provincial Governors and particularly provinces that have mobilised local resources to do their part in the spirit of mutual understanding and partnership to assist the National Governt's effort under the current COVID-19 State of Emergency.

These include the Eastern Highlands, Morobe and National Capital District. We are all in this together if we are to be successful in this ward against COVID-19.

“Eastern Highlands has designated the Kassam EBC Health Centre to accommodate persons suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms to be immediately quarantined to undergo observation, monitoring and medication,” Minister Wong explained.

“In Morobe the Quarantine Facility is located at 10 Mile outside Lae City whilst in NCD; the temporary quarantine center is completed and ready for use at Rita Flynn Netball Stadium.”

Minister Wong further explained the while provinces have responded well in submitting their respective COVID-19 Emergency Response Plans, these still require proper and detailed analysis for consistency with the NDOH approved COVID-19 (ER) Plan and budget affordability with the current resources envelope.

Minister Wong highlighted that the government will be guided by the respective border province’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Plans to assist fast track quarantine and isolation facilities for Boarder areas particularly for West Sepik, East Sepik, Milne Bay and Western Provinces.

“The Government is focused to ensuring what it can do within the limits of resources currently available to support the implementation of the National Department of Health approved COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan,” Minister Wong explained.

HON JELTA WONG MP
Minister for Health and HIV-AIDS

Pic Caption: Health/HIV-AIDS Minister Hon Jelta Wong given a tour of the Kassam EBC Health Centre facilities in Obura- Wonenara District of Eastern Highlands Province this year.

12/04/2020

Friday 10th April 2020

MEDIA STATEMENT

Minister Wong ships Ambulances to Lae and Rabaul

Today, 10th April 2020, with the support of St Johns Ambulance Services, we have shipped four (4) ambulance vehicles to support key areas in the country that have been affected by COVID-19.

We the help of Consort Lines, We have shipped two (2) ambulances to Lae and two (2) ambulances to Rabaul.
St John has recently commenced emergency services in Rabaul and is opening a station in Lae later this year.

“We have already planned to send these ambulances to provinces this year. The COVID-19 cases meant we have to expedite their shipping. And we thank Consort for coming to the table to get this done quickly. These ambulances will make a huge contribution to these provinces health systems in the long run, but especially, at present, their COVID -19 Emergency response operations.”

“When COVID-19 operations are completed, one of the ambulances from Rabaul will be relocated to Kimbe. While the other will be relocated to Modilon Hospital in Madang where it will replace the older St John ambulance that is now due for replacing.”

The Marape/ Steven Government is committed to making Health Care accessible to all Papua New Guineans, and this a step in that direction.

“We are working to secure more ambulances right now to support our rural communities in their normal health care, and to prepare our regional areas to handle COVID-19 cases should the virus spreads within our communities.”

“We have asked St John to assist in this process because they are the National Governments ambulance service partner.”

BACKGROUND:
St John is a statuary incorporation in PNG and a royal charter organization. In 2018, St John was appointed by the Marape/ Steven Government to network all our ambulances across the country through one national network.

This ten year period has the support of my Ministry. Distributing these ambulances is part of our Governments focus to help improve people’s access to our regional and provincial hospitals. We are helping to ensure that a good standard of pre-hospital is available.

Good pre-hospital emergency care through proper use of ambulances saves lives and improves people’s access to health care.

An ambulance service in a single community has shown to help significantly reduce maternal mortality; and in some cases, by up to 50 percent.

“We thank St John for their help and commitment for making this happen.”

ENDS

24/03/2020

A irresponsible member of a ENB WhatsApp group has shown great discourtesy to a medical professional by taking information provided in good faith and editing that material before reposting it to Facebook without the Doctor’s consent or approval from the Doctor’s superior. That’s astonishing behaviour and I hope the person responsible will regret their actions and apologize to the Doctor. Throughout the world under-resourced medics are at the forefront of the battle against CoVid. They should be treated with respect and courtesy by all and at all times. We will trace this person and have him charged for defamation.

24/03/2020

World TB Day

18/03/2020

We are pleased to announce that a probable covid 19 case presented in Morobe Province on the 14th March has returned with negative results.

We are thankful recent travellers in to PNG are following the advise given upon entry by our teams and reporting any slight changes in their health.

In this case, the gentleman presented when he felt ill, is now feeling better but is happy to comply with our isolation restrictions and will be in quarantine for another 14 days, and tested further before given the all clear.

We’d like to thank all members of the public for continuing to work with us to ensure PNG continues to remain Covid 19 free.

God bless and goodnight.

PS: A full Media Statement will be released on the matter tomorrow.

Hon Jelta Wong. Minister Health/HIV-AIDS

18/03/2020

Moreadvice from Mr Barry Ropa our most experienced surveillance Officer and Cluster Leader for the Covid 19. He has worked on past outbreaks and has successfully led NDOH teams in the past.