Western Provincial Health Authority

12/12/2025

WPHA would like to join our government and our people in sharing our condolences to the families and friends of Late Telefomin MP and Minister for Works and Highways, Honorable Solan Mirisim.

Hon. Mirisim advocated for a linked Papua New Guinea connected by major economic highways and strong partnerships to drive changes.

We recognise his contributions to this country, especially with the ConnectPNG Program and hope our leaders continue his pursuit for a well-connected country.

Having our country connected by roads and important communication networks will solve many of our development problems, and just as well, ease the burden of the current logistical nightmares we face in delivering medical supplies and equipment within rural Western Province.

To The West Sepik Provincial Government, The Telefomin District Development Authority, The Family and Tribe of the Late Hon. Solan Mirisim

On behalf of the Fly River (Western) Provincial Government and the Western Provincial Administration, we convey our deepest condolences on the passing of the Late Hon. Solan Mirisim.
His passing is a profound loss not only to Telefomin District and West Sepik Province but to the entire nation.
In Western Province, we will always remember him as our wanbush—a true brother and ally— “Hon. Solan Mirisim was more than a leader for Telefomin District alone — he was also a voice for Western Province at the national level, especially in NEC and forums where we were absent. Having begun his career with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), serving in Western Province and knowing our land intimately, Kiunga was his home, and he treated Western issues as his own. A true son of the Min Tribe and a lighthouse of the Star Mountains, he illuminated the dark skies of West Sepik and Western Province.

His last conversations with us were about launching the Kiunga–Nomad Road and Balimo Town/Kawiapo–Balimo Wasua Roads, showing his commitment until the very end. We may have had differing opinions on leadership style, but he was our man from day one—a brother who stood with us”.

We also deeply appreciate his visit to Western Province when as Caretaker Prime Minister in January this year, he attended the Official Launching of the Western Province Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027 in Daru, Western Province.
His leadership and vision as the champion of the Connect PNG Program will leave behind an enduring legacy that will continue to transform lives across Papua New Guinea
During this time of mourning, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the Telefomin people, and the West Sepik Provincial Government. May you find strength and comfort in the remarkable life he lived and the impact he made for our country.
May the road rise to meet you, may the winds be at your back, and may your light continue to guide the paths of those you served so faithfully.

Rest in eternal peace, Hon. Solan Mirisim.

Approved for Publishing by

Honorable Taboi Awi Yoto, MP
Governor for Western Province

06/12/2025

𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗔𝗜𝗗𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟱𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥.

𝗛𝗜𝗩/𝗔𝗜𝗗𝗦 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘:"𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙍𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘿𝙄𝙎𝙍𝙐𝙋𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉, 𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙉𝙎𝙁𝙊𝙍𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝘼𝙄𝘿𝙎 𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙉𝙎𝙀."

05/12/2025

𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗔𝗜𝗗𝗦 𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗜𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗨

Today, the Western Provincial Health Authority (WPHA) commemorated World AIDS Day 2025 in Daru under the global theme, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.”

The event, coordinated by staff from Daru Provincial Hospital (DPH), brought together community members, partners, and government stakeholders. It served as a platform to honor those living with HIV, advocate for an inclusive environment, and reaffirm the collective commitment to ending the epidemic.

In his first public address as the newly appointed Director for Public Health, Mr. Cletus Bon delivered a keynote speech. On behalf of CEO Dr. Miriam Boga, he thanked ongoing partners for their crucial support in Western Province's fight against HIV/AIDS and called for sustained collaboration into the new year.

“We wear red today to commemorate how far we have come since the first case was detected in Papua New Guinea in 1987,” stated Mr. Bon. He emphasized that addressing HIV/AIDS is a shared responsibility, urging the people of Daru to take the issue seriously and to spread awareness within their families and communities.

Dr. Kenan Witari, Physician for DPH, provided a clear overview of the current HIV/AIDS status in Daru. He advised the public to practice safe behaviors and encouraged everyone to know their status by getting tested at the Himara Kigiro Clinic. (Detailed speech in the next Reel).

This year’s theme emphasises the urgent need for continued government support, international cooperation, and human-rights-based approaches to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. It highlights the challenges of funding gaps and the critical role of community-led services and stresses the need for more involvement from the government, business houses, local churches and community groups in awareness and advocacy.

Papua New Guinea carries the highest HIV burden in the Pacific, and Western Province, just as any other province in PNG, faces unique challenges.
𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬: Remote villages, swamps, and poor transport hinder access to services.
𝐋𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲: Stigma and misinformation still persist within traditional communities.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: High rates of gender-based violence increase women's vulnerability.
𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: Sparse clinics, drug stockouts, and a shortage of trained health workers, mostly in remote areas.
𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Movement related to mining and fishing industries/communities elevates transmission risks.

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱:
World AIDS Day was conceived in 1987 by World Health Organisation officers James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter. The first observance was in 1988 under the theme “A World United Against AIDS.”

05/12/2025

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐮 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

04/12/2025

𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗧𝗕 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝟮𝟯 - 𝟮𝟳 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

𝗞𝗜𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗔, 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘

03/12/2025

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝘂, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗽𝘀

A forum in Daru yesterday highlighted the stark gap between policy and reality for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Daru, South Fly district.

Held at the Crow's Nest Hotel, the South Fly Disability Forum brought together government stakeholders, partner organisations, and PWD representatives to address the critical lack of specialised services.
The event, hosted by the South Fly Organisations of People with Disabilities (SFOPD) with partners including Callan Services and the Australia-PNG Partnership, revealed a system struggling to translate legislation into practical support.

On-site, the clinical need was evident as the Callan Services Eye care team screened 29 patients using a portable U-see device, prescribing and issuing glasses to 22 of them on the spot.

Advocates pointed directly to systemic failures. Mr. Ross Tito, Program Manager for the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNGADP), noted that while protective legislation exists, the path to assistance remains unclear for many. "It is our responsibility to understand the policies and know whom to report to," he stated.

Mr. Here Aihi, Assistant Director - Disability Sector for the Department of Community Development, Youth and Religion, echoed this sentiments emphasizing that implementors must navigate proper channels to ensure PWD programs are included in government planning.

A proposed solution was centred on creating a formal committee to bridge the divide between communities and authorities. Mr. Segela Gagole, speaking on behalf of the WHPA team, argued for a provincial-level working group comprising government representatives, partners, and churches to build and implement project ideas.

The challenges in South Fly reflect a broader national context, where an estimated 15-20% of Papua New Guinea's population lives with a disability, often facing significant barriers exacerbated by remoteness.

The forum concluded with a unified call to move from discussion to coordinated action, ensuring the district's most vulnerable citizens are integrated into yearly District and Provincial development plans.

29/11/2025

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗕 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝘆, 𝗣𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆
ᴷⁱᵘⁿᵍᵃ, ᵂᵉˢᵗᵉʳⁿ ᴾʳᵒᵛⁱⁿᶜᵉ

A comprehensive week-long Tuberculosis (TB) supervisory visit across the North Fly District concluded on Friday, marking the final quarterly assessment for 2025 and setting the stage for a strengthened provincial TB strategy in 2026.

The high-level team, comprising TB Program managers from the Western Provincial Health Authority (WPHA), a specialist from the Burnet Institute, and partners from World Vision PNG, conducted in-depth monitoring at six health facilities from November 23rd to 27th. World Vision facilitated all costs and logistics for the critical visit.

The visitation's core purpose was to monitor the performance of TB Programs at each facility, measure progress against previous recommendations, and collate data to inform the provincial TB strategy for the coming year.

Aligned with the National TB Program (NTP), the WPHA, as the national government's implementor, holds the responsibility to ensure all health facilities meet the prescribed standards and expectations for TB control.

The team's rigorous itinerary began on Monday at Kiunga District Hospital and the Montfort Catholic Mission (MCM) Urban Clinic. Tuesday saw the team travel to Rumginae Rural Hospital, followed by visits to the Matkomnai and Ningerum health facilities on Wednesday en route to Tabubil. The supervisory mission concluded with a visit to Tabubil Hospital on Thursday.

Throughout the week, the team engaged directly with health workers and patients. Burnet Institute’s TB Specialist, Dr. Moe Thandar, conducted clinical reviews of patients, while the broader team provided on-the-spot counselling, compiled reports, and offered corrective guidance to healthcare implementors on issues ranging from treatment adherence to data reporting.

The week culminated in a feedback meeting on Friday in Kiunga, where the team presented consolidated findings to the managers and staff of the visited health facilities. The meeting was attended by the North Fly District Health Manager, Mr. Rody Ukin, and Dr. Kari Seki from Kiunga District Hospital, who has been instrumental in implementing the NTP in the district.

Key presentations were delivered by World Vision PNG’s TB Technical Specialist, Dr. Sonia Madjus, and Dr. Moe Thandar from the Burnet Institute, who categorically outlined the observations and recommendations from each facility.

Mr. Rody Ukin expressed his gratitude for the visit, specifically acknowledging Mr. Gabriel K**a, the Former Acting Director for Public Health and now the current Disease Control Manager for Western Province, our partners World Vision PNG and Burnet Institute, and the WPHA team from Daru for their coordination with partners.

“Battling TB is a combined effort, and under the leadership of Mr. K**a, our partners and WPHA have done a great job in finding and resolving issues with regards to the implementation of the NTP in Western Province,” Mr. Ukin stated.

The meeting was honored by an address from Mr. Gabriel K**a, who reflected on the progress of the TB Program in Western Province since he took office in 2023—the same year these quarterly supervisory visits were initiated under his leadership.

He detailed the journey of the program and the strides made, while acknowledging the persistent challenge of TB in the province. Mr. K**a thanked the partner organizations for their unwavering support and strongly advocated for its continuation as the province continues its fight against the disease.

The successful completion of this supervisory visit provides a critical evidence base for the Western Provincial Health Authority and its partners to refine and launch a robust, targeted TB control strategy for 2026.

Western Provincial Health Authority is proud of the ongoing progress of the TB Program and would like to thank our partners World Vision Papua New Guinea and Burnet Institute for their continuous support and look forward to more progress next year.

Together, we can End TB in Western Province.

ɴᴏᴛᴇ: ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴɴᴜᴀʟ ɴᴇᴡꜱʟᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴄᴇᴍʙᴇʀ.

25/11/2025

𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐔 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑

No more power outage issues that affect day-to-day operations, Daru Provincial Hospital is proud to announce that the lights are finally turned on.

The solar power directly sourced from PNGSDP's Solar Farm, compliments our vision of promoting the use of sustainable energy sources in our facilities.

This project will directly impact how the hospital performs and ensures massive cost-cutting as previous power issues have led to the damage of medical equipment and supplies worth thousands of kina.

This news was welcomed by the Executive Manager for Daru Provincial Hospital, Dr. Timothy Danaya and his staff members.

Dr. Danaya goes ahead to thank Western Provincial Health Authority, PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd. and the Fly River Provincial Government for the tripartite agreement signed early this year. "Your commitment to the health and well-being of our people in Daru and South Fly District has directly led to this important project that will go a long way in ensuring critical health services are carried out without unnecessary interruptions." he stated.

25/11/2025

WPHA would like to congratulate Dr. Timothy Danaya in his appointment as the Executive Manager for Daru Provincial Hospital.

We wish him all the best in this very important role and are glad to work with him moving forward.
🥳🎊

06/11/2025

Our hardworking volunteers and staff have been battling some of the toughest terrains in the country in the Polio Campaign Round 2.

WPHA wishes to extend enormous gratitude towards them for their efforts, and also thank the communities who have received them with open arms.

May the good Lord bless, guide and keep you all safe on your journey to serve rural Western Province.