A high-ranking group of Australian politicians has touched down in Papua New Guinea to receive first-hand insight into serious health challenges facing our close Pacific neighbour.
The trip, which runs from January 16 to 20, has been funded by Pacific Friends and organised with the support of Save the Children Australia.
Joining the delegation is:
Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham; Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
Josh Burns MP; Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee
Mike Freelander MP
Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah MP
The Hon Michael McCormack MP; Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston; Shadow Minister for Health
Dr Sophie Scamps MP
Lady Roslyn Morauta, Pacific Friends of Global Health board member and Vice Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said:
"Our main aim is for MPs to gain a better understanding of some of the major health challenges Papua New Guinea faces.
"We're hopeful they'll come away having learnt about the high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as the need to better prepare for future health security threats.
"The COVID-19 pandemic placed enormous pressure on the health system in PNG, with vital services diverted and some hospitals becoming perilously close to running out of oxygen, for example.
"Throughout the trip MPs will get an insight into the tuberculosis testing and treating program, a HIV peer worker initiative and community malaria outreach.
Professor Brendan Crabb, Chair of Pacific Friends of Global Health said:
"The delegation will have an opportunity to see some of the new tools and innovations to screen and treat women in remote settings against cervical cancer risk. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in PNG, despite Australia leading the world with its own elimination outcomes."
"The visit will help MPs understand how Australia's aid program complements the work of multilateral global health partners.
"We want to explore how we can boost these sort of effective partnerships with PNG to ensure we tackle some of these really pressing health challenges.
"We've been unable to hold these sort of trips because of Covid travel restrictions. It's a really exciting delegation of MPs from across the political spectrum that includes shadow ministers and relevant committee chairs.
"Three of the MPs - Mike Freelander, Michelle Ananda-Rajah and Sophie Scamps - are doctors, and three are former senior cabinet ministers."
