WHO Papua New Guinea

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.

16/05/2026

🌍 World Hypertension Day 2026
🗓 17 May 2026

High blood pressure — often called the “silent killer” — remains a major public health concern, affecting millions worldwide, often without noticeable symptoms.
This year, under the theme: “Controlling hypertension together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer”, we highlight the urgent need to strengthen early detection and ensure equitable access to treatment and care.

🔎 Hypertension is the leading preventable cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death worldwide.

📊 According to the WHO Global Report on Hypertension 2025, 1.4 billion adults aged 30–70 are living with high blood pressure — yet only 23% have it under control.

Regular blood pressure measurement is a simple but essential step for early diagnosis and timely treatment.
🩺 What can you do?
▫️Check your blood pressure regularly
▫️Maintain a healthy lifestyle
▫️Seek medical advice early
▫️Encourage family and community members to get tested

Strengthening primary health care and community-based services is critical to improving hypertension control in Papua New Guinea and beyond.

🤝 Together, through collective action, we can reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and support healthier lives for all — including by scaling up the WHO HEARTS package https://bit.ly/4ucSB2p to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Take action today!

13/05/2026

Papua New Guinea’s Medical Supplies Strategic Plan (MSSP) 2026–2030

The first consultation for the development of Papua New Guinea’s Medical Supplies Strategic Plan (MSSP) 2026–2030 brought together key stakeholders from the National Department of Health, private sector, technical agencies, and donor partners.

This marks an important step toward strengthening PNG’s medical supply system through collaboration, practical solutions, and shared priorities — helping improve reliable access to essential medicines and health commodities across the country.

The work is proudly supported through the WHO–DFAT–NDOH partnership, reinforcing a united commitment to stronger and more resilient health systems.

Further consultations led by NDOH across all levels of the health system will continue as development of the strategic plan progresses toward finalization.

12/05/2026

Strengthening Workforce for Essential Public Health Functions in Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the National Department of Health (NDOH), convened a one-day workshop to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s public health and emergency workforce.

Supported by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the workshop brought together participants from NDOH, central government agencies, and non-health sector partners in support of a One Health approach.

The workshop focused on advancing the implementation of the WHO roadmap for Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs), strengthening understanding of the roadmap and its tools, while identifying national workforce priorities for 2026–2027.

Through presentations, group discussions, and plenary sessions, participants assessed the current public health workforce landscape and strengthened alignment of strategic priorities under the South-to-South Cooperation framework.