Paula DAVID

Preparations are well underway for the Santos PNG Orchids team as they head into their first 2026 Rugby league World Cup match against France this Saturday 17th October at 12:15pm at the Santos National Football Stadium.With only eight days of preparations, Head Coach Craig Sandercock says the players have been training hard and learning new skills as they gear up to represent Papua New Guinea on home soil.He says training in the hot conditions is also helping the team adjust to the weather they are likely to face on match day.“It’s a bit hot for me but its all good. They've trained, as I said, really well and we've got to get used to it because it's going to be this hot or hotter on Saturday, so it's a really good thing actually.”Sandercock says he has been overwhelmed by the support shown to the Orchids ahead of the tournament.He says the team is determined to compete strongly, never give up and make Papua New Guinea proud, particularly young girls aspiring to play rugby league.He said, “And for us, we just want to compete hard. We just want to be competitive and make everyone in Papua New Guinea, especially all our female population, our young girls, we want to make them proud of the team. And we want to compete hard and never give up.”The coach also says the inclusion of players transitioning from rugby union to league has strengthened the squad, with Naomi Kelly and Ivani Wong showing a strong willingness to learn and improve.“They're on a steep learning curve, but the good thing about those players is that they're so keen to learn and they want to learn, they want to get better. And they have been. They've done really well and they're learning every day and I can't wait to see them play on Saturday,” said Coach Sandercock.Although the coach admits he still needs to learn more about the French side, he is looking forward to seeing his players put their hard work into action when the Orchids take the field on Saturday.

The Joint Consultation Report and Melanesian Framework are expected to guide the next stage of the Bougainville political process, with public concerns and consultations feeding into the documents now before the National Parliament.Chief Secretaries to the Government Mr. Ivan Pomaleu and the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) Chief Secretary Kearnneth Nanei, say the work also builds on consultations conducted by a bipartisan parliamentary committee across Papua New Guinea (PNG).The committee’s findings highlighted concerns among communities about the country’s past, particularly the Bougainville conflict, as well as uncertainty over what the future could look like.The Secretariats say these concerns were considered by the technical working groups that developed the Melanesian Framework, which is intended to provide a stable, predictable, constitutional, and legally viable pathway for the two governments.The framework recognises the unique relationship between Bougainville and the rest of Papua New Guinea, including their shared Melanesian culture, kinship ties and the need for an enduring relationship.Chief Secretary Pomaleu said the framework is also intended to address concerns that Bougainville’s future political status could result in the country becoming divided.“The referendum result, which saw an overwhelming majority of Bougainvilleans vote for independence in 2019, is now set to be considered by the National Parliament,” said Pomaleu. The motion before Parliament will specifically ask members to decide whether to accept the referendum result.Chief Secretary Ivan Pomalue clarified that MPs will have the opportunity to debate the issue before a final decision is made.All members of Parliament are expected to participate in the vote, although the exact voting method of whether an open or secret ballot has not yet been determined.That decision will be made through the parliamentary process involving the Leader of Government Business and the Speaker.Following the parliamentary decision, the Speaker is expected to provide the Government with the official proceedings and outcome, which will then inform the next stage of discussions between the National Government and the ABG.The two governments will then determine how and when to proceed based on Parliament’s decision.The Melanesian Framework also outlines a gradual pathway towards greater self-government and eventual independence, with the aim of providing certainty and allowing Bougainville to continue building its institutions and capacity.

The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority recorded more than 279,000 patient visits across its health facilities between January and June this year.Chief Executive Officer Dr Robin Oge says Geruhu General Hospital attended to 90,681 patients during the six-month period.“In six months, Gerehu Hospital attended to 90,681 patients, more than half of everything it did in the whole of last year.”He says almost 33,000 patients were seen in the adult and children’s outpatient clinics, while the Emergency Department, which operates 24 hours a day, attended to 14,143 patients.The hospital also admitted 436 patients, while specialists saw more than 4,782 patients.Across the NCD health network, 24 health facilities recorded 189,240 patient visits.Dr Oge says Six-Mile Clinic was the busiest facility, recording 56,063 visits in the first six months.“Its 24-hour service attended to 11,836 patients after 4 p.m. in the afternoon.”He says the service is helping reduce pressure on Port Moresby General Hospital’s Emergency Department.“That's about 65 patients every evening who would have otherwise gone to Port Moresby General Hospital Emergency Department.”

The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority says its public health programs have recorded strong results in the first six months of 2026.Chief Executive Officer Dr Robin Oge says the authority’s tuberculosis program registered 4,902 cases and successfully treated 92 percent of patients.“We registered 4,902 cases of tuberculosis and successfully treated 92% of these patients. The national target is set at 85. We have eclipsed it.”The authority also conducted 25,793 HIV tests, with every person who tested positive started on treatment.More than 19,000 clients in NCD remain in its care.The authority also treated 3,488 sexually transmitted infections and 177 cases of leprosy and carried out more than 5,000 malaria tests and treatment.For mothers and children, 7,466 mothers attended their first antenatal visits, while 37,746 children were screened for growth and nutrition.However, Dr Oge says routine childhood immunisation remains a concern, particularly measles and rubella vaccination coverage.“Our routine childhood immunization is behind where it should not be, and the measles and rubella vaccination coverage concerns me most.”He is encouraging mothers across the city to bring their children to health facilities for vaccination.

A fire has destroyed almost 760 hectares of oil palm blocks at Lolokoru Estate in Talasea, West New Britain.The affected area is Division Two of the NBPOL group of plantations at Bulu Point.Assistant Manager of Lolokoru Division Two, Steven Frank, said the fire is believed to have started from nearby bushes after locals made fires in the village oil palm blocks.He said the current dry conditions, worsened by the El Niño weather pattern, and strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly through the mountain and into the estate’s palm blocks.Frank said the damage could have long-term impacts on local growers and the company, particularly with the current fresh fruit bunch mill-gate price at around K939 per tonne.He is calling on authorities to equip districts with water trucks and tanks that can supply communities and assist in responding to fires.Frank also wants police to conduct awareness in communities about the long-term damage caused by uncontrolled fires.He is further calling for government support with food supplies and better coordination and distribution to wards affected by the ongoing dry conditions brought on by El Niño.Frank said improved water and sanitation plans are also needed across wards in the Talasea area to help protect communities from health problems linked to the dry spell.

Papua New Guinea’s rugby league development pathway is beginning to provide young players with a clearer route from grassroots football to the national stage.That pathway was on display yesterday as the Junior Kumuls created history with an 18-10 victory over the Australian Schoolboys at Santos National Football Stadium.The Junior Kumuls were led by a double from centre Jason Daniel, with the win highlighting the growing development of young players coming through PNG’s rugby league system.Junior Kumuls head coach Joe Grima says the progress is evident in this year’s squad, with nine players coming through the PNG NRL Academy and National Youth Competition development system.Coach Grima said many of the young players have already spent several years in the program, making the transition into the Junior Kumuls environment much smoother.“This is the third year for a lot of these young men that have come out of that academy,” Grima said.He said the structured development programs are helping players arrive at representative camps better prepared and able to build combinations with players coming through Australian-based systems.The program has also expanded across Papua New Guinea, with Grima saying it now covers 14 provinces and 1,680 boys and girls across 14 regions, including six newly added regions.He described the program as an important foundation for the country’s future rugby league players.The pathway now stretches from junior development through competitions including the NYC, Santos Cup and Digicel ExxonMobil Cup, before progressing to the PNG Hunters, Orchids and Kumuls.Grima said the planned arrival of the PNG Chiefs in 2028 will provide another potential pathway for young players.He also pointed to former Junior Kumuls captains who have progressed into professional opportunities, saying the current crop can see that a place in the national junior team can be an important step in their careers.For the players who took on the Australian Schoolboys, Grima said the opportunity was about more than just the result.He said representatives from the rugby league system were also watching the young players and assessing their potential for future opportunities.“The door’s open, they’ve just got to walk through it now,” Grima said.The Junior Kumuls did just that, producing a determined performance to secure an historic 18-10 win and further highlight the talent coming through PNG’s rugby league pathway.

The World Health Organization has released its fact-sheets about breast cancer which remains one of the world’s most common cancers among women, with an estimated 2.4 million women diagnosed with the disease and 694,000 deaths recorded globally in 2024.WHO says breast cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in 164 of 186 countries in 2024.WHO says around 80% of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than sex and age, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection.While breast cancer mainly affects women, men can also develop the disease, with an estimated 0.5-1% of breast cancers occurring in men.Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and form tumours. If not detected and treated, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.WHO identifies increasing age, obesity, harmful use of alcohol, family history, radiation exposure, reproductive history, tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone therapy among factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer.Common symptoms include a breast lump or thickening, changes in the size, shape or appearance of the breast, dimpling or redness of the skin, changes to the nipple or surrounding skin, and abnormal or bloody discharge from the nipple.WHO urges people with an abnormal breast lump to seek medical care, even when the lump is not painful. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but cancerous lumps are more likely to be successfully treated when detected while they are small and before they spread to nearby lymph nodes.The WHO says early detection and timely treatment are essential to reducing breast cancer deaths. Early detection includes awareness of symptoms, seeking medical advice, timely clinical evaluation and diagnosis, and referral for treatment.Treatment depends on the type and stage of breast cancer and may include surgery, radiation therapy and medicines such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy or targeted biological therapies. WHO says treatment is generally more effective and better tolerated when started early and completed.WHO also highlights the importance of access to multidisciplinary care, including oncology, radiology, pathology, nutrition, physical therapy, social work, mental health, palliative care and rehabilitation services.The global health agency says strengthening health systems and establishing reliable referral pathways from primary healthcare facilities to hospitals and dedicated cancer centres are important for improving breast cancer outcomes.In 2021, WHO established the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, with a goal of reducing global breast cancer mortality by 2.5 percent each year and averting 2.5 million breast cancer deaths globally by 2040.The initiative focuses on three main areas: health promotion for early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management.

The routine distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets for malaria control has been launched in Morobe Province.Health Secretary Pascoe Kase launched the distribution at Mutzing in Markham District on October 2, 2026.The latest distribution exercise will cover Markham and Nawaeb districts as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen malaria prevention and control across the province.Morobe is one of Papua New Guinea’s largest provinces, with nine populated districts, making continued malaria prevention efforts important in protecting communities from the disease.The insecticide-treated nets can last for up to three years when used correctly and provide effective protection against bites from infected mosquitoes.Health Secretary Kase has been at the forefront of advocating for stronger action against malaria in Papua New Guinea, with his leadership and commitment acknowledged by stakeholders involved in the fight against the disease.Stakeholders say strong and committed leadership is essential to achieving the country’s goal of eventually eliminating malaria.The latest distribution is expected to strengthen household protection and support ongoing efforts to reduce malaria transmission across Morobe Province.

PNG PM’s XIII mens captain Ila Alu says the team is ready to embrace the challenge of facing Australia in today’s PM’s XIII clash at 2:50pm at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.Alu says preparations throughout the week have been positive, with the squad focused on building combinations after players arrived from different competitions and levels of rugby league.He says playing alongside some of the country’s emerging talents has also been a valuable experience for the team.“Preparation has been good. It’s a privilege to play with a few promising boys coming up from the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup competition. We get the opportunity to play with them tomorrow.” Alu said.The Kumuls captain says much of the week has been spent developing combinations and understanding each player’s strengths.He says communication in defence and set plays have been key areas of focus as the team prepares to contain an Australian side featuring several NRL players.“We all come from different competitions and playing at different levels,” Alu said.“It’s all about understanding each other’s game and what works for them and each individual’s strength.”Alu says facing Australia provides valuable exposure for the players and an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best rugby league players in the game.He is also encouraging the younger members of the squad to remain confident and play their natural game.“Just let the boys be themselves,” he said.“Everyone is unique in their own way and their performance has brought them all this far.”Alu says his role as captain is to provide leadership while allowing his teammates the freedom to express themselves on the field.The PNG PM’s XIII will now look to put their week of preparation into action when they take on Australia in front of a home crowd at the Santos National Football Stadium this afternoon.

The PNG Junior Kumuls are ready to face the Australian Schoolboys tomorrow, with head coach Joe Grima confident his young side can compete for the full 60 minutes.The Junior Kumuls will take on the Australian Schoolboys at 10:30am at the Santos National Football Stadium in Port Moresby in the 2026 Prime Minister’s XIII.Grima said the team has had a demanding week of preparation, with the coaching staff carefully balancing training sessions with recovery.He said the players have worked hard and built strong connections throughout the week, despite coming from different regions of Papua New Guinea and Australia.“It’s been a really connecting week with the boys,” Grima said.The coach said the Junior Kumuls are also aware of the challenge presented by the Australian Schoolboys, but will look to play their own game and remain disciplined.Grima identified discipline when coming out of their own end as one area the team must improve if they are to remain competitive.He said the Junior Kumuls need to avoid unnecessary risks and maintain their composure with the ball.“If we can compete and play to the 60th minute and be a little bit more disciplined when we’ve got the ball coming out of our end, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”Grima acknowledged Australia’s strength and resources but said the Junior Kumuls will not be intimidated by their opponents.The coach said playing in Port Moresby could also provide an advantage, with the local players familiar with the heat, humidity and conditions at Santos National Football Stadium.The Junior Kumuls have fallen short against the Australian Schoolboys in their previous meetings, and Grima said Saturday presents another opportunity for the young side to test itself against one of the strongest schoolboy rugby league systems.The match kicks off at 10:30am, following the Junior Orchids’ clash against the Australian Schoolgirls at 9am.

Junior Orchids skipper Janique Mili says patience and focus will be key as the team prepares to take the field and represent Papua New Guinea in the 2026 Prime Minister's XIII match tomorrow.The 18-year-old, who is based in Brisbane and plays in her junior rugby league with Logan Brothers, is representing the Junior Orchids for the second time.Mili has been given the honour of captaining the side this year and says she is proud to lead the team.“It’s a privilege. It’s a huge honour to be able to have that role of leading the team out,” Mili said.Her message to her teammates ahead of the match is simple — remain patient and stay focused in both attack and defence.Mili also hopes the Junior Orchids can inspire young girls across Papua New Guinea to pursue rugby league and dream of representing their country.“I just hope we’re doing the right things, and we’re paving the way for them,” she said.“There are a lot of amazing little girls out there that hopefully one day can take this field and also do the country proud.”With social media and outside criticism often creating distractions for young athletes, Mili says the team has been encouraged to focus on the task ahead rather than listen to negativity.“At the end of the day, those people that are giving negativity, they’re not the ones that represent the country. We are,” she said.Her message to young people chasing their sporting dreams is to stay true to themselves and not allow others to discourage them.“Don’t care about what anyone says, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just keep being you.”And for the supporters back home, Mili has one simple message.“Just thank you, and hopefully we can bring one home for our country.”

The Constructional and Law Reform Commission has launched the Issues Paper Terms of Reference No. 28 (TOR 28)- Review of the Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Act 2007, kick starting a national review of the legal and institutional framework governing PHAs in the country.The TOR 28 was issued by the Minister for Justice and Attorney General in April of this year.CLRC Chairman Mr. Desmond Kipa said, the Commissions mandate is to review and recommend reform of the laws of PNG. This gives the Commission an opportunity to look beyond the immediate challenges and consider the kind of health governance framework PNG needs for the future.He stated that these national frameworks recognise the importance of improving the wellbeing of the people, strengthening human capital and ensuring equitable access to essential services.He said, “This is the only opportunity we have to review the outset and if we don’t get it right, it will take another fifty years to look at the next review so it’s a timely call and I urge all the members of the public and the development partners to help the team that will be conducting the review across the country, especially with information they require to make recommendations to the responsible departments and the Government.”“To all our health workers, share with us the realities you experience on the ground. With our PHAs as well. Provide us with your institutional experience and practical perspective.”He also thanked everyone for participating in this review as this is critical to ensure the issue under TOR 28 are addressed holistically.Meanwhile, CLRC Secretary Dr. Mange Matui said, the review also aligns with PNG’s broader national development aspirations, including the national Goals and Directive Principals, Vision 2050 and the Medium-Term Development Plan IV. Particularly in strengthening human capital, improving the wellbeing of citizens and ensuring equitable access to essential services.Dr. Matui said, “TOR 28 consultations will commence into several provinces namely, Hela Province, Western province, Morobe province, East Sepik province, New Ireland Province, Western Highlands Province, Manus province and the national Capital District. CLRC will be accepting written submissions and encourages public participation in the online consultations for TOR 28.”He added that, as the Independent mandated agency responsible for law review and reform in Papua New Guinea, TOR28 is expected to contribute to stronger governance, clearer institutional responsibilities, improved coordination and greater accountability within the health system.