Project Yumi Inc, an Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) registered not for profit, and Credit Corporation today announced that they have signed a Corporate Sponsorship Agreement for the delivery of Project Wok to 480 Grade 12 students in 2023. In recognition of the major challenge that youth unemployment in PNG is Project Yumi Inc’s Project Wok Program empowers PNG school leavers with sustainable skills that will help them create the foundations they need to build a successful future. Project Wok equips Grade 12 students with strategies to help them transition from the school room to the workforce through an experiential, facilitator led training program that comprises four modules of job search and employment readiness education. Project Yumi Inc Founder, Renee Mero, said that “The Project Yumi team is very excited to see Project Wok launch with the sponsorship of Credit Corporation as we have seen through the pilot program that attending the program can change lives. We look forward to seeing the opportunities that the program creates for its participants in 2023.” “Credit Corporation has a proud 43-year history of supporting local communities, partnering with not for profits and community organisations, and investing in the development of our people. Our sponsorship of Project Wok demonstrates our commitment to do what we can to respond to one of the complex challenges that faces PNG.” said Credit Corporation CEO, Danny Robinson. Head of People & Culture, Loka Niumatairua, proudly explained that Credit Corporation staff have enthusiastically registered to become Volunteer Project Wok facilitators and mentors in their free time. She further stated that Credit Corporation can always rely upon its compassionate staff to support the work that we do in our communities. The staff have a strong social conscience and we always look for opportunities that directly engage our people and contribute to solving social challenges. Project Wok is aimed at Grade 12 students who would not ordinarily undertake further tertiary studies. Those students who do not have access to support in seeking employment opportunities. In addition to the job readiness training, the Project Wok program will also offer the opportunity for its graduates to apply for work experience and internship placement. “We are delighted to announce that Credit Corporation have committed to offering internship placement opportunities for some Project Wok graduates” said Volunteer Project Wok Facilitator, Dawn Robinson.

Digicel PNG Foundation announced its continued partnership with the St John Ambulance at the MoA signing ceremony on 21 September 2022 at the Digicel Headquarters. "Health is one of the key priority areas in our work and over the years we have partnered with NGO’s around the country who are providing life-saving services to some of our most vulnerable people who would otherwise have no access. This year we are proud to partner with St John’s to provide funding assistance to continue their expansion throughout PNG," Digicel PNG Foundation CEO, Serena Sasingian stated. Digicel Foundation began supporting St John’s in 2020 when it funded two ambulances and paramedics training for its operations in Simbu and Central Provinces respectively. Apart from the contributions of Digicel PNG Foundation, the Digicel business has been a committed supporter of St John’s Ambulance from the initial support it gave in 2015 to supply a toll free emergency hotline as well as PABX and mobile services. Colin Stone, CEO for Digicel PNG who was present at the event stated, “Each year Digicel contributes over 250 000 PGK in value with over K1 million already delivered to support the services of St Johns. This partnership with the Foundation builds on the support that has already been given by the Company and we look forward to St Johns increasing their services across the country.” Digicel PNG Foundation will be funding St John’s with an additional K300 000 bringing its total investment up to K800 000. This support will allow for an additional ambulance and the training of six paramedic staff to continue its life saving work in rural PNG. “An ambulance is just a vehicle, but combining an ambulance with coordination makes it an ambulance service that can save lives and brings confidence to communities,” St John Ambulance CEO, Matt Canon commented. He further stated that a partnership as such helps the ambulance service reach rural and remote communities through the national government, provincial health authorities and district development authorities. “Reaching the patient quickly, efficiently, and reliably requires reliable communication and coordination systems. Coordinating ambulances nationally is possible with Digicel because of their broad national reach in all 22 provinces of PNG.” Mr Canon added. To date Digicel PNG has invested over K162million into health and education projects in all the 89 districts of PNG as part of its mission to ensure that no one gets left behind.

It is my honour and privilege to, again, join and address this August Hall. On my Government and people’s behalf, I congratulate you, Mr President, and the Government and people of Hungary, on your election to preside over the new term of the General Assembly’s work and wish you well. Your presidency’s theme of an integrated agenda for peace, prosperity and sustainability through multilateralism is most needed today. We must build on the good foundations laid by your predecessors and all of us. This is given the turmoil, uncertainty, mistrust, pain and suffering, from multiple crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the worsening climate crisis, escalating socio-economic challenges, and conflicts tearing us apart. Let us transform words into actions. This must be underpinned by our collective commitments; supportive resources that are affordable, accessible and timely; and with enhanced opportunities, that will assist us all, to provide our people’s basic needs, restore their trust and confidence in governments, heal our lands and ecosystems to deliver the future we want, as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda and many of our own development aspirations. Mr. President, let me pay tribute to your predecessor, a fellow Small Island Developing State representative, His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Shahid, of Maldives, for his outstanding “presidency of hope” that has renewed our collective resolve to turn the tide against the ravages of the pandemic and other evolving challenges. We wish him well. May I also convey my delegation’s gratitude to Mr. Secretary-General, for his continued strong leadership and untiring efforts in rallying the world to save ourselves and to provide a future that is much better, safer and secure for all, including for succeeding generations. The candid yet sobering report presented by the Secretary-General to us at this meeting on the state of our world today, is deeply troubling. The clarion call from the Secretary-General must not go unheeded. We must all do our part and act decisively, now, for our collective good. Otherwise, the alternative is to condemn ourselves to a future of doom and gloom. Is that what our children deserve? It is with this in mind that Papua New Guinea is supportive of the Secretary-General’s narrative of “Our Common Agenda”. We welcome the preliminary progress made to better understand the range of defining issues and how we address this effectively to help deliver on the SDGs promise to improve our people’s lives and livelihoods whilst also protecting common environment better. To this end, we applaud the Secretary-General for convening the Transforming Education Summit. We are pleased to note the shared recognition of education as the cornerstone for a prosperous, stable and secure future for all. I know that an educated society is an informed society that stands to make better decisions. For my country, education is a key priority and is guided by our education policy of “leave no child behind”, supported by our Education Sector Development Plan 2023-2027. It is a holistic and inclusive approach in ensuring focus on quality lifelong education for all and with special attention given to the most vulnerable and marginalized population and recognizing the importance of multi stakeholder participation. A demonstration of this strong commitment for education is my Government’s decision to provide free-education for all, up to Grade 12 and beyond and also providing opportunities to children, youth and adults through Flexible Open and Distance Education and community colleges to upskill their capacity to be entrepreneurs and nation builders. We also welcome the consensus reached for the “Summit of the Future”, scheduled for September 2024, to find solutions to the multiple crisis we are now facing. This should, however, be not defined by the lowest common denominator but rather be more ambitious yet realistic and workable. We remain committed to engage in this process, because it provides an opportunity for us to also draw parallels with our national efforts to attain our National Vision 2050. I am pleased to inform this Assembly that the COVID-19 pandemic and other stressors, including supply-chain difficulties and development financing challenges, affecting my country has spurred my Government to embark on our own similar national process to the Secretary-General’s global efforts under “Our Common Agenda”. This is where we have taken stock of our own domestic development challenges and we have set in place key policies and legislative measures, including reforms in important sectors and development priorities, and tied to our budget cycle under the Medium-Term Development Plan. This path if walked upon would make PNG a middle income earning nation by 2050 as envisioned by our nation’s Vision 2050. Mr President, I report to United Nations that the core focuses of my Government for the next 5 years will be to build a resilient and diversified economy, invest in high quality economic and social infrastructure, ensure fair and equitable natural resources development, address business and investment confidences, strengthening the rule of law and domestic security, deliver quality education and health to all and strengthening the Institutions of State including governance. These are fundamental building blocks of my country that should contribute towards peace, prosperity and sustainable development as proposed by yourself, Mr. President. As PNG approach our 50th Independence Anniversary in 3-years time, my Government is also prioritizing industrializing our economy through import-substitution, value-adding and downstream processing of our natural resources with the use of modern clean green technology that will not compromise my country’s rich biodiversity and our pristine natural environment for PNG is documented to have about 5 to 6 % of world”s biodiversity and our huge tropical rainforest third behind Congo and the Amazon areas of our Earth. We therefore welcome genuine and appropriate foreign investors to join us in in partnership in various sectors of our renewable resources development and I assure them of a fair, equitable and secure returns on their investments. Mr. President, while we note the global community’s calls for domestic revenue sources to be expanded and better harnessed for development financing, we also recognise that the existing global economic and financial architecture is weighed against developing countries like mine. This structure needs to be changed to better support our development needs. Least we forget, many times small developing countries get to bear the brunt of global economic and social woes that they have no hand engendering. In this spirit, I also join the calls from fellow Small Island Developing States (SIDS) for their development financing needs to be considered by taking into account their environmental, economic and social dimensions of vulnerability rather than the Gross National Income measure alone, which is no longer suitable. We therefore urge the international community to support the proposed SIDS Multi Vulnerability Index (MVI) as a tool to support SIDS concessional financing and debt relief given their special circumstances amidst the ongoing increasing challenges, they continue to face for their development needs including food securities that our good Secretary General alluded to. Mr President, today, many parts of the world are facing food insecurity, hunger and poverty and Papua New Guinea can be a country of food production. PNG’s 8 million people live in a land mass of 464,840 km2 and our country has rain and water abundance with our seas equally is food  source like our supply of tuna to Asia and Europe. Comparing for instance United Kingdom of Great Britain’s 24,610 km2 or Japan’s 377, 975 km2 or Philipine’s 300,000 km2, PNG have enough land, sea and people to be a food supplier to the world, Mr Secretary General in response to your concerns for global food security. For the first time in our country, my Government has inserted efforts to address this imminent problem by placing more emphasis on in the agriculture sector. This is viewed not only as a revenue source for our economy but also a conduit to empower the majority of our rural communities through introduction of innovative farming methods in cash crop production, livestock and poultry, to take ownership and leadership of their development needs and livelihoods and at the same time also foster poverty alleviation and food security. It is from this perspective that we have established new ministerial portfolios for Oil Palm, Coffee and Livestock that will assist us cater better not only for needs of the majority of our rural communities and their local economies to be integrated into the national and global markets to improve their lives and livelihood but be the source for food security and hunger and poverty alleviation for other countries. We therefore welcome new international development partners to work with us in the agriculture sector, particularly in the downstream processing of products that adds value and supports local communities and the country. On climate change, Mr. President, as the world prepares for COP27 and despite the rallying efforts of the global community including through the pledges under the Paris Agreement to cut emission levels, the world remains on fire. This is further compounded by destructive floods and rising sea levels that continue to inundate and adversely affect coastal communities, including displacement and loss of identity as a people, in my own country and across the Pacific region and beyond, as the carbon emission level continues its destructive spiral out of control. We cannot and must not allow this to continue. I again reiterate my call last year, to this august Hall. My country, as one of the largest standing pristine tropical rainforest of the world, is one of the few carbon positive countries in the world.  We remove more carbon than we emit.  Over the past 5 years or so, we have reduced national forest emissions by 53 percent.  This totals over 75 million tonnes of UN verified sovereign credits REDD+ credits that will be on the market by the end of this year. My Government has updated our Climate Management Act and this year set in place Nationally Determined Contribution regulation. We now have the legislation needed to implement the Paris Agreement. We have also endorsed our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Implementation Plan and NDC Electricity Roadmap and Agriculture, Forestry and other Landuse NDC Roadmap. We are also drafting our first Electric Vehicle Policy and working towards endorsing our National Adaptation Plan. It is, however, disheartening to note that despite our proactive national efforts to implementing our Paris Agreement commitment, we seem to continue to get the raw end of the deal. We have done our part.  But we have had little support from the global north, including for our submissions to the Green Climate Fund. But we have not lost hope despite the fact that REDD+ and Forest Nations were forgotten in Glasgow. We cannot be placated by toothless pledges. We need the power of sovereign carbon markets that fully comply with the Paris Agreement. The world cannot talk about climate change without talking about forest conservations and proper land use managements. PNG is calling for an urgent global focus on conservation, preservation and sustainability of our global forests with proper land use practices because only in our dear trees of the forests that you find the dual benefit of carbon cleansing and oxygen production. I was given the privilege of meeting His Majesty King Charles 111and he views forest the same as I am mentioning here and that the world, especially those whose carbon footprints over mother earth is the greatest must help preserve forests of earth that commensurate their level of emissions. It is Papua New Guinea’s humble view that the atmospheric balance of Oxygen and Carbon should be ranked the number on focus of all mankind because their in lays the sustenance of life and the dear trees of our forests plays this balance act as created by the Creator God. The world must save our forest because not to do so is suicidal for the Earth’s future. This is something we must correct at COP-27 in Sharm El-Sheikh. Let us not forget that there is more carbon stored in the worlds forest than held in all known coal, oil and gas reserves. In short, if we lose our rainforest, climate stability is impossible. We may as well kiss the temperature goal of 1.5 degrees goodbye. We and other rainforest nations are trying our best to balance forest harvest for our development needs and conserving for our world. We need help here, hear us.  Our planet is fragile. Time is short.  Together, we can do this. On my final point on climate change, given increasing adverse impact of climate change on our communities, I would also like to echo Papua New Guinea’s strong support for our Melanesian neighbor, Vanuatu’s initiative to seek ICJ Advisory Opinion on this existential threat, and welcome others to join the Pacific, Caribbean and other partners to take this forward for our common good. On the ocean agenda, Mr. President, I would reaffirm that Papua New Guinea as a maritime nation, is strongly committed to ensuring our maritime zones remain safe, secure and peaceful, under the spirit of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It not only provides us economic opportunities including through our fisheries resources but also symbolizes our ties with the ocean. Like other Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, Papua New Guinea calls on developed nations to assist us access appropriate capacity building resources, research, science and technology and finance to strengthen our national efforts to better protect our ocean and harness ocean-based economy. We therefore welcome public-private partnership. On SDG 14, it was pleasing to note the success of the Second UN Ocean Conference. We are also encouraged by the welcome offer by France and Costa Rica to be the next co-host of the Conference and look forward to working together with likeminded countries to take forward this initiative. Such partnerships on the ocean agenda is most welcomed. Mr. President, I would also like to applaud the sterling efforts under the leadership and presidency of Singapore for last month’s negotiations related to the new implementing instrument on the conservation and sustainable use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and as marine nation we offer our full support.  A resounding call we continue to hear, loud and clear, and repeatedly, and rightly so, is the importance of empowering youth to be at the table of decision-making about their lives and livelihoods and as real partners for national development. This is indeed long overdue and must be brought to fruition without further delay. In recognition of the ever-increasing youth bulge in the country and the challenges they continue to face, under my Government’s development priorities, youth is now front and center for nation building. We are rolling out cadetship program as a tool for capacity building and training that will equip them to be owners, drivers, leaders and entrepreneurs to build forward our nation. We are also using our education system as a lever to foster integral human development for our youth. We welcome development partners to join us in this transformative endeavor. Mr. President, it is in this spirit that Papua New Guinea was pleased to be a main sponsor and strong supporter of the establishment of a Youth Office in the UN Secretariat. It was also pleasing to note the consensus on this issue. While we recognize that much more work remains to be done, however, once operationalized, we look forward to harnessing the UN Youth Office to support our national efforts on the youth agenda. The potential of our youth was well recognized by Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, and the Youth Special Envoy, during their groundbreaking visit to my country in March 2020. Mr. President, on gender equality and empowerment, including combating gender-based violence this remains a top priority for my Government. We have established a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee that has done extensive public consultations and the recommendations made to the last Parliament will taken up by this Parliament in a serious way to address better protection of our women and girls and give them fair and just opportunities to reach their full potential.  We have also put in place legislation and policies to address concerns related to gender equality, empowerment and combat gender-based violence. Additionally, we are pleased to have two new well qualified women parliamentarians join our 11th Parliament, an improvement from our last Parliament, where there were no women Parliamentarians. I have also recognized their capabilities and professionalism and tasked them with certain responsibilities for the country. We will continue to work hard to have more women representatives in decision-making bodies, as equal development partners. Mr. President, I would like to join the call for global peace and stability. The simmering tensions and mistrust, which are the nemesis of peace, cannot and must not be allowed to fester anymore. We as members of this United Nations took it upon ourselves to uphold the Charter of the United Nations. It is therefore incumbent on all of us to ensure that we are seen to uphold our commitments to the UN Charter. In our context of the Bougainville peace process, I want to assure this meeting that this important issue remains a top priority for us.  Peace by peaceful means underpins this national priority. We have a Roadmap that continues to serve as a blueprint and we will consider all issues under the existing parameters of our Constitution, for a lasting and peaceful solution that is acceptable to all Papua New Guineans. We would like to thank United Nations for their role in Bougainville and the Melanesian conflict resolution model can be replicated in other politically conflicted countries. On the reforms of the Security Council, Mr. President, to make it relevant to today’s realities, we note the incremental progress that continues to be made in the inter-governmental process. However, let me again reiterate our call to expedite the long drawn out process by ensuring that we have a negating document that can serve as a basis to go forward. May I also take this opportunity to recognize the milestone achievement, earlier this year, of the General Assembly holding the members of the Security Council responsible for their decisions regarding peace and security. We welcomed and supported the Emergency Special Session measure invoked under General Assembly with respect to the situation in Ukraine and to ensure the Security Council is accountable for their actions. The success that arose from this process is a small but significant step to why the reform of the Security Council is necessary and cannot be prolonged further. In closing, and not the least, Mr. President, may I take this opportunity to pay homage to the memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second, who by the grace of God and Lord Jesus, was PNG’s Head of State for 47 years. Our beloved Queen personified grace, dignity,  honesty, humility, tolerance of others, forgives and all other Christian virtues and lived 70 years of consistent unfailing life of public service, some lessons we leaders of the world must learn to practice. I on behalf of my Papua New Guinea pay our respects to Mama Kwin as we affectionately call her. May her soul rest in peace with her Maker Jesus. , . We share our heartfelt sympathies and Condolences to now King Charles 111 and her royal family. Let me conclude by thanking you Mr President for speaking opportunity on a very appropriate theme contemporary to our shared global need and I thank United Nations for one more time being a wonderful host, in fact a milestone 77th session. May God bless the united Natiions of our world. I thank you Mr. President.

The Nasfund Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Tamzin Wardley as the Fund’s new Chairperson from the 1st October 2022. Ms. Wardley has over 20 years of Financial and corporate governance experience and has been an independent director on the Board since 2017. She is currently Deputy Chair, and Chair of the Fund’s Investment Committee. In welcoming this appointment, the Board acknowledged the leadership of the outgoing Chairman, Charles Vee and thanked him for oversighting balance sheet growth, year on year profitability, focus on member services and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders during his tenure since June 2019. Despite economic challenges and Covid19 impacts, under Mr. Vee’s watch, fund membership grew by 9.4% to over 640,000 contributors while annual crediting rates averaging 5.7% and equating to over K898 million were paid to member superannuation accounts since 2019. The Fund also rebranded its corporate image as part of its positioning for the future with the tag line, “Ready for tomorrow”. Charles Vee was appointed to the Board in July 2016 as an Independent Director and initially served as Chairman Remuneration & Nomination Committee, Deputy Chairman and Chairman since June 2019. Charles Vee said, “I am satisfied with the role I have played in leading the Board and Nasfund to where we want it to be today and into the future. The change in the Board leadership, now under Tamzin Wardley, a naturalized citizen and long term PNG resident, ensures continuity and stability on the way forward. Our primary mandate of ensuring safety and security of members’ funds is paramount but there are investment opportunities on the horizon we are interested in that not only provides an adequate return for members but contributes to nation building.” Mr. Vee remains on the Board as an ordinary director and will oversee implementation of specific strategic projects currently in the pipeline.

“Our current school curriculum leans heavily towards academics,” observed ChildFund Senior Project Officer Mcleen Pikachu. “There is not much on social relationships and character development.” Mr Pikachu shared these reflections with UNFPA during a one-day consultation on the implementation of a Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curriculum. The consultation was conducted with support from the National Department of Education and Family Planning New South Wales, as part of the Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls. “We want a future where our future generations have respectful relations and are respectful to the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Mr Pikachu. “I want to see people having healthy relationships and believe with the introduction of comprehensive sexuality education, we can tackle this issue. Comprehensive Sexuality Education - sometimes called Family Life Education, or Character and Social Development - includes scientifically accurate and age-appropriate information about human development, anatomy and reproductive health. This education includes discussions about family life, relationships, culture and gender roles, and also addresses human rights, gender equality, bodily autonomy and threats such as discrimination, sexual abuse and violence. “The sustainability of this curriculum is the biggest challenge that I see,” shared Mr. Pikachu. “This process is currently tied to sponsored projects. What happens after the project ends? Will the schools, especially tertiary schools, carry it on?” UNFPA, in partnership with the National Department of Education and Family Planning NSW, and with support from the Spotlight Initiative, is continuing consultations on the curriculum to ensure that it is fit-for-purpose for Papua New Guinean classrooms. About the Spotlight Initiative The Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative of the United Nations which has received generous support from the European Union. Its aim is to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. In Papua New Guinea, Spotlight is implemented by UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP and UNICEF across 11 provinces. The Programme works to address gaps between legislation, sub-national institutions and service delivery, in addition to addressing the causes of violence in promoting behavior change and respectful relationships. Spotlight was launched in 2020 and will conclude in December 2023.

The United States government's top Indo-Pacific advisor says "resources will be put on the table" when President Joe Biden meets with Pacific leaders next week. US Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell said the two-day summit will see Pacific leaders meet with political and business leaders in Washington DC next week. "The goal here is not just to listen but to put substantial resources on the table," he said. His comments come as Pacific leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly where Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host Pacific leaders at a side event. Source: ABC Pacific

New Caledonia's pro-independence FLNKS group has accepted an invitation to meet the French government in Paris next month, under the condition that decolonisation will be a key issue on the agenda. The bi-lateral talks aim to thaw dialogue between France and New Caledonia's indigenous Kanak leaders, who stepped back from negotiations after last year's independence vote. That referendum went ahead despite less than half of the territory's eligible voters heading to the polls as a result of a boycott called by the pro-independence group FLNKS. They wanted the vote postponed because of the impact of the pandemic on Kanak communities. Charles Wea, advisor to New Caledonia's President, said FLNKS will participate in discussions with France under certain conditions. "Any bilateral discussions with the French government will be particularly on the process of decolonisation," Mr Wea said. "It's only between the French government and FLNKS, and FLNKS will represent the Kanak people." Mr Wea said pro-independence leaders are pursuing another independence referendum in 2024. Source: ABC Pacific

A young woman walks 10 hours to reach the district health centre. She is pregnant and has gone into labour. Health care workers are available but their shelves and their stores are empty. If there are complications, what help can they provide? This scenario may be familiar to some people in Papua New Guinea. The experience of walking to a health facility only to see a sign announcing that there is no medicine available for even simple illnesses may be familiar to many more. An inventory management training, conducted by UNFPA in partnership with the National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities and with support from the Australian Government, seeks to fill these empty shelves. “Most of our health workers are not well oriented with reproductive health commodities including drug management, stock taking, maximum and minimum drug ordering, and things like that,” said Judith Takura, the Family Health Services Coordinator for East Sepik Provincial Health Authority. Lifesaving reproductive health medicines, contraceptives, and medical equipment are needed to provide family planning, reproductive health, and essential obstetric care services. UNFPA has supported the National Department of Health in conducting a national Assessment for Reproductive Health Commodities and Services that looked at the availability of these commodities at health facilities around the country. The results uncovered a health system in crisis. Jennifer Simon, Family Health Services Coordinator for the Madang Provincial Health Authority, said that stock management was a concern in her facility. “Looking at the results of the national Assessment for Reproductive Health Commodities and Services, I was able to learn more about the weaknesses in our Health Centers, especially in the dispensary and how poorly managed it is,” she said. “Health workers lack knowledge and training in stock management.” The inventory management training considers not only stock-outs - the absence of a particular medicine or medical device - but also over-supply. Ordering too much of a medicine can create problems as the medicine may expire before it can be used. Small facilities may also lack the proper storage space for excess medicines, such as fridge space for medicines that must be kept cold. With limited resources, the facility may not have funds available to replace expired or improperly-stored medicine. Striking the balance between under- and over-supply requires careful calculation of the needs of the health facility, based on accurate population estimates, and awareness of the storage requirements, expiration dates, and delivery times of different commodities. “Through this workshop most health workers will be able to implement what they have acquired and make a difference in their health centers,” said Ms Simon. Ms Takura agreed, noting the importance of ongoing on-the-job support. “I plan on ensuring that my staff here at this workshop are further trained in dispensary management,” she said. This is the latest in a series of activities designed to bridge the gaps in a complex medical supply chain that includes procurement from international manufacturers and suppliers, effective national and sub-national medical stores, distribution to different levels of health facilities, and stock management at dispensaries at hospitals and health centres. Effective supply chain management is critical to ensuring every Papua New Guinean is able to access reproductive health medicines and services. “These workshops are designed to strengthen the systems that allow the procurement, distribution, quality storage and safe usage of essential medicines and medical devices in particular, reproductive health commodities,” said UNFPA’s Debbie Kupesan said. “Also, it helps health workers understand how the medicines ordering system works in PNG and understand the importance of their role as part of the team involved in the medicines supply chain.” A further three training sessions are scheduled to be held over the coming weeks at Sorgeri for health workers in the Southern Region, followed by New Guinea Region health workers in Kokopo,and finally health workers in the Highlands Region in Mt Hagen. For the many women who give birth or seek FP services in Papua New Guinea every day, a properly filled stock cardmay mean that their healthcare worker can reach for a dose of life-saving medicine, instead of an empty shelf. UNFPA and Reproductive Health Commodities UNFPA works with the National Department of Health (NDoH) to address the unmet need for family planning and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Through support to midwifery in-service training and equipment, procurement and distribution of contraceptives and reproductive health commodities, support to the Certification in Basic Pharmaceutical Management course for Pharmacy Assistants, and sexual and reproductive health advocacy, UNFPA’s partnership with NDoH focuses on strengthening local expertise in delivering improved health services Papua New Guinea. With support from the Australian Government, UNFPA has completed a national Assessment for Reproductive Health Commodities and Services to assess the availability and quality of essential reproductive health commodities and quality of family planning and maternal health services in primary, secondary, and tertiary facilities across the country. In addition, UNFPA procured $730,000 USD of reproductive health commodities in 2022 with support from UNFPA Supplies and mobilized $260,000 USD for strengthening the supply chain and health system in PNG

PNG Prime Ministers X1 soccer team will play Vanuatu in the final Group A match at Korman Stadium in Port Vila Vanuatu on Saturday, September 24, 2022. The Harrison Kamake-coached team sits on top spot after registering a 2-1 win over Vanuatu Development Team in the opening match will give its best shot against the senior men’s team. Vanuatu team drew 2-2 with its Development team which enable PNG to advance into semifinals next week. The matches between PNG and Vanuatu senior is just a formality to confirm the first and second spot for the semifinals on September 27. Coach Kamake is varying of challenges ahead especially with seven of its players are under medication on food poisoning which spread and have affected the Team’s Camp at Warwick Hotel. The Team also recorded the highest number of eight yellow cards and one red card in the opening match that is something PNG Prime Ministers Xl team had to cut down going into the final match. The red-carded striker-cum fullback Kolu Kepo is one of the key players won’t be available for Saturday’s match but will be sure of coming back in the semifinals. With all these compounded problems, Coach Kamake said the players will have to play smart in both phases of the game in attacking and defense. If the players can put up a good defense, we should be able to attack well in numbers. “All players going into the game on Saturday are players we think can do that job, both in the starting 11 and players on the bench as well,” he said. Kamake said the preparations is going well. There are a few niggling injuries, and our physio is doing a good job on them and should be well before Saturday. “We worked on things we didn’t do in the first game and if we stay more discipline in the things we worked on during the week, we definitely will have a good game against Vanuatu senior team on Saturday,” he said.  

A 5-day intensive training workshop on establishing and organising agri-business groups, with a focus on Group Leadership and Business Management skills, was recently organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), under EU-STREIT PNG Programme, for 70 cluster group leaders inclusive of women and potential youth leaders from seven villages in West Aitape Local Level Government, Sandaun Province. The workshop also focused on raising awareness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among cocoa, vanilla and fisheries farming communities. The venue for the training was Marubian Village (Ulau 2), located along the tropical west coastline of Aitape. Lack of knowledge and skills in leadership, particularly among rural women and youth, prevents villagers from partaking equally in decision-making at the executive level of farmer groups. With this insight, the farmers were also trained on how to establish and manage their cooperatives in a gender-sensitive manner.   The first sessions, focused on the importance of mainstreaming gender and youth perspectives and addressed issues of gender-based violence within the three targeted value chains. The sharing of household roles and responsibilities to allow for additional time to contribute positively in farming activities for quality and quantity production, the gender constraints in the value chain development as well as valuing everyone’s inputs by family members for appropriate reward and respect were some of the issues discussed. It was the first time that the villagers were learning about shared gender roles in contrast to some existing cultural norms. Through group discussions, participants came to realise how the sharing of household workload could   improve their lives as well as their farming output. "Everything begins in the house. As long as we share responsibilities within the house, we can save time and be more productive on the farms," explained Ms Patu Shang, Programme's Gender and Youth Inclusion Specialist. The sessions, filled with dynamic interactions, group discussions and presentations, provided an opportunity for mothers and girls whose efforts and contribution have hitherto not been appreciated, to speak out. "This group gathering is a window for these mothers to say yes they can speak and not to remain silent and likewise for youths to see life in a positive way," said Mrs Angela Passingan, Chairlady of BAMA Womens' Group who organised the mothers in the village to collaborate with EU-STREIT PNG Programme for this learning opportunity. The women's group comprises mostly single mothers, including widows, and they invited female and male youths in the community to join them. This opportunity equally helped this group to build its organisational capacity. "I believe this training will help us in many ways. Once we can fix our homes in terms of sharing gender responsibilities, we can manage other aspects of our lives like farming cocoa and vanilla," added Mr Joseph Sarinu, Ward 29 Member. The sessions on farmer group leadership with a business approach helped boost women and youths' confidence to take up leadership roles. Some key contents covered include Benefits of Cooperative Ownership, Understanding Regulatory Compliances, Goals Setting & Action Planning, Roles of Leaders/Members in Cooperatives, and Understanding the Organisational Structure of Cooperatives. The importance of working in groups to take part in agribusiness in cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains was also shared and discussed. Involving women and youths in active dialogues is necessary in this regard. "This training has clarified my thoughts that my sister has a right to be consulted in decision-making and participation in our farmer group we want to run in our community," said a 25-year-old male youth Jason Kagum. The EU-STREIT PNG, being implemented as a United Nations Joint Programme (FAO as the leading agency, and ILO, ITU, UNCDF and UNDP as implementing partners), is the largest grant-funded Programme of the European Union in the country and the Pacific region. The Programme focuses on increasing sustainable and inclusive economic development of rural areas through increasing the economic returns and opportunities from cocoa, vanilla and fishery value chains and strengthening and improving the efficiency of value chain enablers including the business environment and supporting sustainable, climate-resilient transport and energy infrastructure development.

Even before people figured out who his famous father was, a young Nathan Cleary used to command plenty of attention from onlookers at the Mt Albert Rugby League Club in central Auckland. As Eiden Ackland, his teammate from the time recalls, "there weren’t many other 11-year-olds who were kicking sideline conversions." After switching to rugby league from soccer, it was at Mt Albert that Cleary spent his formative years as a league player, becoming a fixture at the club while dad Ivan was coaching the Warriors in the NRL. The teams he played for during that time were strong, one year winning all of their games except for the derby against the other Lions team in their competition. “My claim to fame is that Nathan Cleary’s team never beat mine,” Spencer Cusack, the coach of the other Mt Albert team, told NRL.com with a chuckle. I remember Nathan could probably kick the ball 10 metres further than the average kid that age. Spencer CusackMt Albert Lions club captain "He could kick from 10 metres inside his own half and land it 10 metres off the line. “That day we beat them, him and Eiden almost kicked them back into the game. “I remember Nathan was slightly built too, probably one of the smaller kids in the team.” "You could tell from a very early age that he was very committed and he has just followed that on. "Even now he plays like someone who is much older than in his mid-20s." While they are rarely credited as being one of the Penrith ace’s junior clubs, the Lions – whose current NRL products include Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Bunty Afoa – consider Cleary one of their own, and club members will be watching on with pride this Saturday night when he takes on the Rabbitohs and attempts to lead the Panthers to a third-straight Grand Final. “We love watching him and I want Penrith to go all the way for that reason," Cooper said. “I had a little bit of a role in that story, not much, but a little bit.” Cleary won’t be the only player with junior links to New Zealand on the field at Accor Stadium on Saturday, with his teammate James Fisher-Harris hailing from Northland’s Whangarei Marist Brothers club and Rabbitohs player Kodi Nikorima (Burnham Chevaliers, Christchurch) starting out across the Tasman. Source: NRL.com

Nasfund welcomed two new-look Member Service Centres to its branch network yesterday. The Waigani, and Port Moresby Member Service Centres were officially opened and witnessed by Nasfund Directors, Executive Management, Staff, and members. [caption id="attachment_27074" align="alignnone" width="906"] (Left to Right) Waigani Member Service Centre Branch Officer In Charge Esther Malol, Nasfund member Apolonia Lami, Nasfund Director Florence Willie, and CEO Ian Tarutia at the opening of the Waigani Member Service Centre. Mrs. Lami & Director Willie officially opened the new-look facility.[/caption] Speaking at the occasion, Nasfund Chief Executive Officer Ian Tarutia reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to continually improving its service to members. “The Waigani Member Service Centre is our new flagship branch, as it provides members with the full array of services that the Fund provides. This new facility is the largest service center we have out of our 21 branches throughout the country. It has 10 counters, 2 meeting rooms, and can accommodate over 70 members at any one time, which provides an environment that is comfortable and functional for our staff to work in and for members to be served.  The National Capital District, and Central Province constitutes the largest portion of our membership with over 233,000 contributors or 37% of total membership, hence the logic to have 3 branches in NCD to service this large member segment. [caption id="attachment_27075" align="alignnone" width="906"] Nasfund member Apolonia Lami (Right) was the first member to be served at the Waigani Member Service Centre. In this picture, she is served by Michaelyn Papat.[/caption] We are confident that our membership within the Waigani, and Downtown precincts will take ownership of these Member Service Centre, and utilize the services offered here. These two new-look facilities are part of member-focused developments, which have taken place recently. Just last week, we opened our second member service centre in Lae, Morobe Province, while our Alotau Member Service Centre has also moved into a new location. These developments demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that our members are provided the best service wherever they are. At the same time, we also encourage our members to utilize our online electronic channels, which includes our Call Centre, Member Online Portal, the Mobile Phone App, or Mobile SMS facilities. These electronic options are aimed at providing the services needed by members, at their fingertips, without the need to physically walk into our branches, which is also a safer option.” Mr Tarutia also encouraged Fund Staff to remain member-focused, by providing the best service to all Nasfund members. [caption id="attachment_27078" align="alignnone" width="906"] Nasfund Directors & Executive Management at the Waigani Member Service Centre[/caption] To the Waigani and Port Moresby Teams, keep up the positive mindset and attitude. Quick response times, efficient service and effective resolution to queries are what matters to customers, our members and this is how we are judged. It is pointless if we have a great modern facility but we are not backing up with our services with a smile and a friendly posture.  I thank our Property & Information Technology Teams, as well as our contractors for delivering a quality product for our members. Your tireless efforts behind the scenes, have now enabled our members to access our services in more conveniently, and in greater comfort.”