Kerebi DAVID

Climate Change impacts are real and showing its aggression in PNG currently, hence the increased climate variability through temperature and precipitation, coastal erosion, saline intrusion and inundation caused by sea –level rise and a greater intensity of tropical storms. The effects of climate change are expected to affect agriculture, fisheries and forest which is approximately one fifth of the country’s GDP thus also providing for the livelihood of the majority of the country’s population. Because of the effects of climate change, the Adaptation and Projects Division of the Climate Change and Development Authority has launched a National Adaptation Plan recently to tackle climate change issues at the provincial level. ‘ Mr Jacob Ekinye, General Manager for Adaptation and Projects Division in a brief meeting with the media today stated that the Adaptation Plan will focus on the Provinces and communities and it will go by phases. The National Adaptation Plan will mainly focus on Agriculture, Health, Transports and Works. “Basically we will be looking at this four sectors because every year, in our annual budget, a big chunk of money goes into addressing those key areas,” says Mr Ekinye. With Agriculture about 80% of the population live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for their livelihood thus this is an important sector and Health is another important key area which is expected to see changes with increasing water borne and vector borne diseases that will arise because of climate change, the National Adaptation Plan is looking at addressing this too. With Transport and infrastructure, Mr Ekinye stated that all roads and bridges, airports and wharves must be sustainable, built in a way that can withstand the effects of climate change. “These are critical infrastructures were so much money is spent on, but we have to bring in the idea of climate change into these infrastructure developments so that they are sustainable and can withstand the climate impact,” said Ekinye. Mr Ekinye further stated that other sectors will also be included as time goes and as more ideas come in they will grow on this and evolve documents to meet climate change effects on different sector as time goes. The National Adaptation Plan is for 2022 to 2030 and by the end of 2030 Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) hopes to see a climate resilient community. “Because the on slot of climate change is immediate and if affecting everyone, you come up with different ways on how you can cope and adapt to the climate change effects so by 2030, everyone should know how to adapt and cope with changes brought by the impacts of climate change. ” However Implementation is the biggest challenge right now, because climate change came in to the scene a little over a decade back, so traditionally climate change has not being around said Ekinye. “It’s a new area for priority for government, so when we set it as priority we must allocate adequate resources to implement those priorities because we will need to come up with a budget, because in the objective of this plan we have networking, coordination, integration but most importantly we need to mobilize finance to get this on the ground.” Mr Ekinye added that mobilizing climate finance is very important, and they have three sources; one is through the national budgetary process, where the Government of PNG must show ownership and commit funds to address this issue that is really affecting our country. The second way to source fund is through the Public Investment Program (PIP), provinces support increment program, DSIP and PSIP, and this is where the local members and local government comes in to commit funds to help their local communities. And the third source of fund for the National Adaptation Plan is help from the international community through the climate funds or adaptations funds and other facilities set by the international community’s to address climate change in small vulnerable countries. Ekinye highlighted also that right now there are no climate change offices in various provinces to monitor and assess situation but by 2030, CCDA wants to see all sectors, from national and sub national level integrated climate change into their policies and plans. And all plans must align with the National Adaptation Plan and must be incorporated into provincial development plan so that climate change is not only addressed at the national level but down to the provincial level, district and all communities.  

Medical students from Divine Word University and three of their faculty doctors took part in a rural outreach program recently in Madang. The outreach was in partnership with Madang Provincial Health Authority who provided additional medicine and rapid tests kits. The outreach was done in Malala community in the Bogia district, which saw collaborative efforts together by the Catholic Health Service, Malala Health Centre, local church leaders who assisted to organize patients as well as the nutrition research participants. Under the clinicians’ supervisors, Professor Dr. Jerzy Kuzma and Dr Marcella Yeou, the year 4 medical students were able to examine and manage a number patients with various sicknesses. Another group including six staff from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science and two students conducted nutrition action research within the community. This included reporting on the mapping of nutrition status and behaviour and further discussions with the local community on effective and acceptable interventions on how to improve nutrition status of children under the age of 5 as well as pregnant women. The nutrition action research was sponsored by Bread for the World Organization. The initial study showed a high level of malnutrition among the children in Malala community. A postgraduate student in the Master of Public Health Program also had an opportunity to collect data for the Master thesis nutritional research. “Healthcare outreach programs are critical in addressing healthcare disparities and improving the health outcomes of underserved rural communities,” said Professor Dr Jerzy Kuzma. Professor Dr. Kuzma highlighted that such program can further help improve the overall health and well-being of the community. “Outreach program improves training in clinical and public health arenas by exposing medical students to hands-on patient experience and community health promotion projects in rural settings, showing them the opportunity for future career pathways.”

9 Hatchery farmers in the country will be given training on how to produce their own Fish feeds called the Sex Reversal Feeds for Tilapia (SRT). Mr Jacob Towa from Towa Fish Breeding and Hatchery in Western Highlands Province is one of the 9 Hatchery farmers who are here in Port Moresby to receive training from National Fisheries Authority on how to produce hatchling feeds. “SRT is the very first feed we give a hatchling when it comes out of the egg,” says Mr Towa. “These feed reverses the cyclone of a female genital development in fish thus developing all hatchlings to male only.” Mr Towa further stated that female fish tend to grow slow and small in size but male fish grow faster and bigger and its good for the market thus National Fisheries Authority is more focused on helping farmers grow male Tilapia fish. SRT Feed is quite expensive and often Hatchery farmers had to travel to Port Moresby and Aiyura in Eastern Highlands Province to buy new supplies. But thanks to National Fisheries Authority, the trainings these farmers will undergo this weekend will help the Hatchery Farmers know how to produce their own SRT feeds for their little hatchlings. “This is a critical training and it’s important in freshwater fish farming, because such training will cut down costs and help develop and freshwater fish farming in the country will start to boom.”

CPL Group through their Supermarket brand Stop and Shop is pleased to announce their partnership with Capital Rugby Union as Gold Sponsor for the 2023b season. The sponsorship is valued at K70, 000.00 and was officiated in a mock-cheque presentation at Stop and Shop Waigani Central shop by CPL Group Executive Officer Navin Raju and Capital Rugby Uninon Vice-President John Nilkare in front of Club players, competition management and the media. “CPL is happy to come on board this year with Capital Rugby Union as a gold sponsor.” “We see this as an opportunity to model teamwork and promote healthy and active lifestyles through sport and our brand Stop & Shop”, said Mr. Raju. “For any sport to do well, you need strong management behind the competitions such as the team behind CRU, and so we’re happy to support the competition”. CRU Vice President John Nilkare said, “We have ambitious plans and programs, but we can’t bring it all together unless we have sponsors behind us and CPL coming on board as a gold sponsor is fantastic news.” “Thank you, Navin and your team, and I can assure you that the funding will be utilized wisely to raise the standard of rugby and set a benchmark for associations throughout PNG which will make Stop and Shop proud.” Stop & Shop has always remained a family-focused supermarket in Port Moresby with eight shops city-wide and with the brand’s renewed focus to promoting active lifestyles, partnering with Capital Rugby Union further strengthens Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies campaign to provide the best quality products to customers, especially towards children and young adults. Capital Rugby Union (CRU) is Papua New Guinea and Port Moresby’s oldest and premier Rugby Union Competition, with five divisions and over 8 clubs participating, including women’s and junior competitions. The competition has seen improvements in recent years, capped off with a successful 2022 season. The 2023 season is now currently underway, played on weekends at Bava Park, East Boroko, and concludes in August.

Former Australian rugby and NFL player Jarryd Hayne has been found guilty of raping a woman in 2018. According to CNN affiliate 7News, a jury returned a unanimous verdict in the New South Wales District Court on Tuesday afternoon. CNN has reached out to Hayne’s lawyers. It is the third time Hayne has faced a jury for the incident. In his first appearance, a retrial was ordered after it ended in a hung trial. He was then tried a second time and, in March 2021, Hayne was found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. The court found that he had traveled to the woman’s house on September 30, 2018, and while his taxi waited outside, Hayne assaulted the woman while she told him “no” and “stop.” According to the court’s findings, Hayne’s “actions were forceful and rough.” The victim was said to have “felt overwhelmed by the physical disparity and the speed with which the offender assaulted her.” As a result of Hayne’s actions, the victim suffered injuries and bleeding in her groin area, according to the court. [caption id="attachment_38471" align="alignnone" width="788"] Hayne outside Castle Hill Police station in Sydney, New South Wales, in 2018.[/caption] At the time, he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison, with a minimum time served of three years and eight months before being eligible for parole. After Hayne had spent nine months in prison, an appeals court overturned his convictions and ordered a third trial. But on Tuesday, after seven days of deliberations, Hayne was again found guilty of rape. He will be sentenced at a later date, according to 7News. Hayne has indicated that he would appeal the decision. Outside court, Hayne maintained his innocence “100 percent.” “I never lied to the police. I never deleted evidence. I never hid witnesses,” he said, per 7News. Hayne is one of the National Rugby League’s most famous players, having won numerous awards for his success on the field. He also had a brief spell in the NFL in the US, playing as a running back for the San Francisco 49ers in 2015. Source: CNN News

A young mother and her son showed up today at PNGFM's Legend FM studio to claim her gift hamper which she won through Legend FM Easter Feast with Coca cola. Ms Faith William was the week 3 winner for the Legend FM Easter Feast with Coca Cola which was running for three weeks. She was all teary when she saw the contents of the hamper she had won especially the protein content and said it was an answered prayer. Faith explained her emotional reaction was because her father in-law was finishing his 40 days fasting this Easter Sunday and the family were down financially to afford protein for him after his fasting. “My Father in-law is a faithful Catholic and he is on a 40 day fasting from protein,” she said. “We wanted to cook something nice for him but my husband said due to other commitments he had, he was not going to buy protein for Papa this Sunday.” Just after her husband said that and took off for work, Faith got a call from Legend FM 101.1 that she is one of the lucky winners for the Easter Feast Hamper. “I was excited and told my mother in-law that if the hamper contains meat, then it will be for Papa for this Sunday when he breaks his 40 days fasting,” said Faith. Just as she and her 2 year old son were leaving the house, her little boy ran to his grandfather, hugged him and said, “Mipla go kisim meat blong you (We are going to pick up your protein). Faith said it was a great feeling to see that there were enough and variety of protein in the hamper, and this is an answered prayer. “Despite not going to church faithfully, I said a little prayer for this blessing and it did come true during Easter,” said Faith. “But this is because Papa was faithfully fasting and praying, and this is Papa’s blessing to share with us this Easter.” Faith wants to encourage all that, if we need something, we must believe and if there is fasting and praying involve, God will bless everyone in his own time and way. All we need is to just believe and claim whatever you need in Jesus Name.

Easter is a time for giving and with it commitment in sharing Christ’s love in Papua New Guinea in the good and bad times, Samaritan Aviation continues to show its commitment in this time of despair when everyone in East Sepik is affected by the 7.3 magnitude earth quake. Country Director Samaritan Aviation Mr Chris Cooke stated that Samaritan Aviation is been busy flying in patients injured from their houses collapsing on top of them. Whilst working closely with the Sepik Provincial Disaster Relief Officer flying out patients who have sustained injuries from affected areas because of the earthquake, they are still doing additional emergency life flights along the Sepik plains and the remote areas. “We are assisting the Sepik Provincial Disaster Relief Officers by performing aerial and ground surveys of the affected areas,” said Mr Cooke Country Director. “We are privileged to serve the people of East Sepik and our hearts are with them in this time of disaster.” From delivering essential medical supplies to getting patients to the hospital, a typical day on a Samaritan Aviation medical mission is filled with moments of hope and healing. "We're proud to be a part of such impactful work." Picture courtesy: SAMARITAN AVIATION                                                                               #samaritanaviation   

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s PNG Lukautim Graun Program (LGP) has given financial grants to Madang Forest Resource Owners Association Inc (MFROA) to help empower women and improve village-level natural resource management practices in Madang Province. MFROA’s Projects Manager, Mr Taksey Dobon, officially signed the grant agreement on behalf of the association at the Madang Resort in the presence of representatives from USAID-LGP, MFROA board members, forest-owning community representatives, youth and female representatives, staff, and volunteers recently. Mr Dobon said that the project is important as they are trying to create a better alternative to large scale logging operations. “The project will empower rural women and youths into forest biodiversity conservation and income generation through honeybee farming and other agricultural land use systems.” MFROA will use the grant from March 2023 to May 2024, to collaborate with the communities of Ambaruk, Upinint, Astangu, Itarangu and Iraruk in Madang’s Middle Ramu District. This is to provide training in conducting biodiversity surveys, gender awareness and female empowerment approaches, agricultural techniques, market access skills, project management, institutional capacity building, and sustainable eco-friendly livelihoods. “This work will help contribute to reducing environmental threats to biodiversity by mobilising communities to improve natural resource management and participate in conservation-related livelihoods like honeybee cultivation.” said Junne Cosmas, Grants Manager for USAID-LGP. More than 2,500 people in these communities are expected to benefit from the program, with women and youth the primary beneficiaries.  

It is not a common sight for a man from Hela or Highlands culture to be a midwife and deliver babies because it is seen as a woman’s job says 23 years old Gilbert Gei from Hela Province, who is the only male recipient of one of the 10 scholarships provided by the United Nations Population Fund Country Office to the University of Goroka’s Midwifery School. Mr Gei said he had seen firsthand the importance of a midwife and the role they play in saving a mother and a baby’s life. Mr. Gilbert Gei completed his nursing studies at Goroka Nursing College, Eastern Highlands Province in 2020 and returned to his home province, Hela, to work in one of the most remote district hospitals. “I worked in the Labour Ward at Magarima District Hospital,” shared Mr Gei. "In a month, we would have 18-25 births and about 7-10 of these deliveries would have complications.” “As a nurse without a midwifery specialisation, I performed vacuum delivery four times and one bridge delivery." “All I was able to perform successfully was from watching our in-house midwife.” Mr Gei added that just by watching and learning was not enough, and he made the decision to become a midwife because there is a gap at the district hospital that he felt he could fill. “The lone midwife we had at our district hospital, unfortunately, passed away and there was a huge void that she left." “I was doing a midwife's job with no technical knowledge and proper skills for what I was doing. I knew in my heart that I had to become a midwife because there were so many mothers and babies dependent on me.” Mr. Gei was accepted into the midwifery course at the University of Goroka as a self-sponsored student, which meant he had to pay his K37, 000 tuition fees, for his 18-months training straight from his own pocket. “I enrolled myself with only K5, 000, knowing very well that my future in this training was uncertain and I even prepared myself to withdraw knowing my financial limitations.” “But now I am extremely grateful to UNFPA for this important scholarship." “It could not have come at a better time. I cried for joy when Sr. Clerah, the Midwifery Coordinator, advised me of this scholarship and that was 1 of 10 students receiving it.” “There is so much I can do as a midwife and I look forward to successfully completing my studies so I can go back and help my mothers in Komo-Magarima.” UNFPA provided 10 financial scholarships to midwifery students from the University Of Goroka School Of Midwifery in its ambitious goal to reduce and eliminate maternal deaths in Papua New Guinea. According to UNFPA’s State of the World Midwifery report, PNG needs a minimum of 5000 qualified midwives, but it is sad to know that currently the country has less than 800. Meanwhile UNFPA Country Representative Marielle Sander has urged for investment in the midwifery workforce for the country to change the statistics on maternal mortality.

Fish farming in recent years has gained momentum and is booming in the Upper Highlands. That's the word from Mr Jacob Towa, owner of Towa Fish Breeding and Hatchery Farm in the Western Highlands Province. Mr Towa told PNG HAUSBUNG that he started his journey in farming back in 2002 and by 2019 he went into breeding male tilapia. Towa Fish Breeding and Hatchery farm is one of the biggest Tilapia fish breeding farm in the Upper Highlands, where eggs are removed from the tilapia fish, washed and placed in jars for up to 8 or 12weeks when these fish eggs hatch. “When the eggs hatch, I feed and look after the hatchlings for up to 21 days when they become fingerlings and that is when I sell them to fish farmers." “It’s quit a skillful and delicate job where these hatchlings have to be fed 5 meals a day, and I feed them with Sex Reversal Tilapia Feeds (SRT) so the hatchlings can develop into male tilapia fish only.” Mr Towa said almost 30 fish farmers benefit from his project. “I supply fingerlings to Southern Highlands Fish farmers, Enga, Jiwaka, here in Western Highlands and the latest was Wewak where I supplied 20,000 fingerlings." "Each fingerling is 50t, but if one fish farmer comes with K1000 for fingerlings then a K500 worth of fingerling is given for free." Mr Towa said he believes in helping local fish farmers. “I know that when I give 50% extra of how much they bought then this customer will still come back to me.” Mr Towa further added that there is a demand for fish consumption in the Highlands Region and soon more people will be eating fresh water fish instead of tinned fish. "Supermarkets in Mt Hagen often buy fresh water fish for K12.00 or K12.50 per kilo, but farmers are encouraged to sell at main markets, Asian shops and schools where each fish is sold according to their sizes, with prices ranging from K3- K5." Towa also added that a fish feed now has gone up to K50 and its quit hard on the fish farmers given the economy crisis the country is facing at this time, however with an intervention by National Fisheries Authority in providing feeds for them is timely. “National Fisheries Authority has just given us 5 containers of fish feeds which is now in Mt Hagen and this will greatly help ease the financial burden faced by the fish farmers.” He also highlighted that fish farming was a bit slow when it was first introduced by the National Fisheries Authority because fish ponds have male and female fish together where they keep on producing more and tend to grow slow and small in size, thus making farmers lose interest in fish farming. However with the introduction of breeding and the process of hatchling to fingerlings, this has greatly improved fish farming, where breeding is done in breeding farms where only male fingerlings are sold to fish farmers. “Male fish tend to grow more faster and bigger than the female fish, thus bringing in more income for the fish farmers,” said Mr Towa. Towa proudly mentioned that his Towa Tilapia Fish Breeding and Hatchery farm is one of the only 6 breeding farms in the country that is still in existence despite National Fisheries Authority’s attempt in introducing these breeding techniques to all 22 provinces. “I am happy to help any fish farmers who need my technical advice, if you know where to locate me then come to me, otherwise you can message me via my face book account “Towa Fish Breeding” and I will come and help you grow yours fish farm and give you the necessary advice you need”.

Former Prime Minister (PM) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and East New Britain (ENB) province politician, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, passed away yesterday afternoon, Friday 31st March, around 4pm in his Province.   The Office of the Prime Minister is expected to put out a statement soon.   Meanwhile, St Johns Ambulance service confirmed this news after attending to him.   The late Sir Rabbie served as Foreign Affairs & Immigration Minister in the Government of Papua New Guinea from August 2002 to July 2006 and Minister for Treasury from July 2006 to August 2007. He served briefly as Leader of the Opposition in 1988 before becoming PM between 1988 -1992 and Speaker of the National Parliament between 1994 -1997.  He earlier served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, 1982-84 and has held several other senior ministries including Primary Industry, and Petroleum and Energy since his first election to Parliament as Member for Kokopo (East New Britain) in 1982. 

Women and girls affected by violence in Porgera, Enga Province have received essential hygiene supplies with support from UNFPA, Care International, and the Australian Government. The dignity kits consist of menstrual hygiene supplies, soap, a towel, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. This is to ensure all women and girls can practice proper hygiene. Each kit also has a solar light, and this solar light is to help the recipients use toilets or showers at night. In instances were solar is off, a whistle is also given and this is a small security measure when visiting bathrooms alone or while walking alone at night a whistle can be blown to call for help. “Periods do not stop during conflict or a natural disaster,” said UNFPA Country Representative Marielle Sander. “UNFPA works to ensure women and girls can maintain good hygiene and to be able to continue their daily lives comfortably.” “We are grateful to our network of partners throughout the country who are able to ensure we can deliver these kits to those most in need,” said Sander. The dignity kits were distributed to affected communities with assistance from Care International and they were made available from UNFPA Regional Pre-positioning Initiative, supported by the Australian Government.