PNG and WHO advancing Public Health Security through multi-sectoral collaboration

The PNG National Department of Health (NDoH) with WHO officially kicked off the whole-of-society and whole-of-government Strategic Assessment of Risks for All Hazards (STAR) Workshop in Port Moresby.

The STAR workshop is sponsored by the Gates Foundation and supported by the Australian Government. The WHO led week-long workshop will discuss risk models, and plan emergency preparedness and response actions. Setting the foundation for PNG to strengthen its capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies.

Papua New Guinea is known for experiencing concurrent emergencies. Recent emergencies in PNG, including the devastating Mulitaka landslide in Enga Province ( 2024), the series of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in various provinces, tribal conflicts, diseases outbreaks, including Pertussis, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlight the urgent need for early informed actions and country preparedness.

The STAR Workshop is a crucial step to reach consensus on priority risks relevant for PNG’s emergency preparedness planning and adaptive capacities. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, the workshop aims to establish a resilient and proactive public health security framework for PNG.

WHO Representative in PNG, Dr Sevil Huseynova, in her opening speech acknowledged the diverse group of participants, and urged that the opportunity be fully utilised to achieve impactful outcomes. "Our collective response must be proactive, data-driven, and multi-sectoral to ensure no one is left behind in PNG”. Dr Sevil added.

Participants were representatives from central agencies and state-owned entities, and included the Central Public Health Laboratory, Conservation & Environmental Protection Authority, Department of Implementation & Rural Development, Department of National Planning & Monitoring, National Airports Cooperation, National Control Centre for COVID-19, National Disaster Centre, National Department of Agriculture & Livestock, National Fisheries Authority, National Institute of Standards & Industrial Technology, National Department of Health, PNG Defence Force, PNG Ports Corporation Ltd and Royal Constabulary of Papua New Guinea, Provincial Health Authorities: Central PHA, East New Britain PHA, Enga and Morobe PHA, partners: Clinton Health Access Initiatives, DFAT/Australian High Commission and National Critical Care & Trauma Response Centre-PHOENIX Team, ABT PATH, and UN Agencies- FAO, IOM, UNDP and UNICEF.

Together we are building a healthier future for PNG!