Yes PNG can end Tuberculosis

Yes, We Can End TB 

In Papua New Guinea, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is an important reminder of the urgent need to address the country's TB situation. 

TB is caused by bacteria known as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and predominantly affects the lungs. It spreads through the air when a person with lung TB coughs, sneezes, or spits. Just a few germs are enough to infect someone. So living and working in overcrowded conditions is an important social risk factor for the easy spread of TB. 

Individuals infected with TB bacteria have a 5-10% risk of contracting the disease in their lifetime. However, the risk is higher among those with weakened immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnourishment, diabetes, or cigarette smokers.

Despite being preventable and treatable, TB remains the world's top infectious killer, with 10 million people worldwide falling ill with TB each year. 

In Papua New Guinea, the disease is a critical public health problem, with the country reporting 30,000 new cases each year.

An important challenge in TB management is that many people often turn to local witch doctors or sorcerers first for treatment and present late for medical attention. 

Symptoms of TB include cough for more than 2 weeks associated with bloody sputum, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. 

TB is curable, and treatment is free. Standard TB treatment is a course of 4 TB medications daily for 6 months.  The treatment cures the disease, reduces transmission, prevents drug resistance, relapse and death. 

Picture by World Bank

Poor compliance with treatment remains a challenge due to the long duration of treatment. An important program that we all can be a part of in our families and communities where we have TB is to partner with TB patients and help them take their medications via the Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) Program.  

By raising awareness, empowering communities, and offering support, Papua New Guinea can unite in the fight against TB - Yes, We Can End TB!

#TBDay #PNG #tuberculosis

Police investigate huge truck crashing into a police vehicle on a busy road

Port Moresby police are investigating a traffic accident that caused vehicles in traffic to have bumped into one another following an initial collision with the first vehicle. 

Police say a police officer attached to the Police Headquarters in Port Moresby, driving the first vehicle which the truck crashed into was lucky to have  survived the accident on Wednesday, March 22.

 A dump truck ran into his vehicle from the back and caused his vehicle to crash into another vehicle infront and the collision effect impacted several other vehicles.

According to police, the policeman was travelling in a white double cab at around 11am along the Baruni Road leading to Motukea Wharf when the dump crashed into his vehicle. 

The vehicle driven by the police officer Picture by Police

Police officers who were notified of the accident quickly responded and assisted the policeman to hospital.

Back of the vehicle first impacted by the truck 

 

The driver of the dump truck was taken to the Police station and he is being investigated.

A story about a pastor's son connecting youth to church work

 “When I was a child, I would sit on my mother’s lap and she would tell me the stories of our people. It meant that my whole life I’ve known who I am, because I know my story... 

I’m so grateful for it because today it’s fading away. It’s harder for young people because of the noise of modern life … they don’t take time to spend with their elders and learn their stories.”

Kim Allen (28) is a volunteer youth leader in our partner the United Church in Papua New Guinea (UCPNG). He is responsible for engaging UCPNG youth on an island off the southeast coast of Papua New Guinea where he grew up.

His father was a pastor, his mother told him the traditional stories of their people, and his grandparents were Bible translators who worked with Australian missionaries.

Guided by the positive impact they made on his life and his community, Kim follows in their footsteps, acting as a facilitator to connect youth to the work of the church.

“The challenges we’re facing are school dropouts, unemployment, early marriage and the impacts of climate change,” he says.

But the underlying problem affecting young people today, is what he describes as ‘noise.’

“Young people are exposed to so much noise, with the internet, mobile phones, drugs, peer pressure, music. They can’t focus."

“It used to just be in the cities but is coming to the islands and rural areas too now.”

What’s the answer?

“The first step is to help them be aware of themselves and their lives as children of God,” says Kim.

“With that awareness we can then meet them at a practical level, training them to be good citizens, to work against violence, to build up their communities…"

“The church gives them hope and a solid foundation to be human. We see that as intrinsic to spiritual development.”

For Kim, having greater awareness of ourselves and others starts with our stories. And that comes through inter-generational dialogue.

“In PNG and across the Pacific, we don’t read books so much because it’s not a reading culture. We do storytelling from person to person,” he says.

“When our elders tell stories the children go, oh that is my story, I am part of that.”

Not only does it increase comprehension and literacy, but children grow up to make an impact around them. 

“If [young people] know their story, they know that they have values. They know to have respect for elders, respect for each other and respect for the environment.”

What a beautiful vision.

Stoy By The Uniting World

Flood devastated the Mekeo area

 In 2017 I travelled to the Mekeo region in the Central Province.

We did aerial surveys following a high flood and responsible personnel were able to put reports for quick essential relief assistance.

The videos I share below can be downloaded and used for media reporting.

I hope based on this video, it should give some tips for future officials on the extent of the damage they may face and what they can immediately work towards bringing help to affected people.

Australian National University PhD holder becomes Assistant Police Commissioner

Police Commissioner David Manning this week promoted four police officers to the rank of Assistant Commissioners in-charge of various commands within the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

Among them is Dr Philip Mitna who holds a doctoral degree from the Australian National University in Canberra.

His doctoral thesis was on Factors influencing Papua New Guinea’s foreign policy in the twenty-first century.

ACP Dr Philip Mitna (left)

He is the first police officer to be conferred a doctoral degree.

Son of a correctional service officer, Mitna from Simbu province was a science foundation student at the University of Papua New Guinea but his marks did not impress much and when cadet recruitment for the police college came up he enlisted and completed his training.

He was then posted to the NCD dog unit squad and eventually became the Dog Unit director.

When he was at the police department he furthered tertiary studies at UPNG obtaining a degree in public policy management, then a postgraduate degree in Public Administration in Singapore and eventually his doctoral degree in Australia.

Dr Mitna is now  Assistant Commissioner Policy & Planning at RPNGC.

“I’m satisfied with the board recommendations and have no doubt you are bringing onboard your expertise that is very much needed in the management. We now have a solid team to take the constabulary forward,” Commissioner Manning said.

The other promotions were

· Chief Superintendent Peter Philip to Assistant Commissioner Border Command;

· Chief Superintendent Rigga Neggi to Assistant Commissioner Highlands Eastern Command; and

· Chief Superintendent Perou N’Dranou to Assistant Commissioner New Guinea Islands Command. Mr N’Dranou is currently contingent Commander of the Police and Correctional Service officers deployed to the Solomon Islands.

 

Deputy Commissioner Administration Joanne Clarkson has congratulated the officers and also thanked them for showing interest in applying for these challenging positions.

She said: “There were 14 applications for six positions advertised but it was reduced to five because there was a substantive appointment made to my previous position as the Deputy Chief of Bougainville Police Service which is Assistant Commissioner Naua Vanuawaru, so the board deliberated on five positions instead."

She added that the Commissioner specifically wanted a good team to not only deliver the 2022 National General Election but more importantly transcend the executive reform agendas and intentions going forward.

“So, from the applications the board saw that you are fit for the organization at this particular time to deliver what is most needed and have recommended you all. It’s time we set the foundation and legacy for the ones coming after us.