A Memorandum of Understanding was officially signed between Marie Stopes PNG (MSPNG) and the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s (ABG) Department of Health. The special ceremony was held at the Buka General Hospital (BGH) recently, paved the way for more meaningful and effective partnership between the two. The signing of partnership was officiated by MSPNG External Relation Director, Anthony Nagul; and Acting-Secretary for ABG Department of Health (ABG DoH), Dr Ruline Pokote and present to witness the occasion were Buka General Hospital CEO – Dr. Tommy Wotsia, BGH senior management and staff, ABG representatives, stakeholders, and media personnel. The partnership is to develop and facilitate collaboration between the Parties as set out in the areas of cooperation towards strengthening Family Planning and Sexual Reproductive Health service provision for the people of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). MSPNG External Relation Director, Mr Nagul said the partnership will see two Marie Stopes’s nurses embedded or stationed at Buka General Hospital’s Post Natal Ward and Arawa District Hospital’s Post Natal Ward. “These nurses will provide family planning services and counselling to post-partum mothers and it is also hoped that these nurses can offer education and awareness on family planning and sexual reproductive health to the wider catchment areas across Buka and Arawa, respectively”. “Marie Stopes PNG is excited to recommence service delivery in ARoB and it is great to see other development agencies, NGOs, Civil Societies and partners working closely with the ABG to delivery much needed services to the people of AROB,” he further added. Also speaking at the signing ceremony,Acting-Secretary for ABG Department of Health (ABG DoH), Dr Ruline Pokote thanked MSPNG and the people and government of New Zealand for their support and steadfast commitment to assisting the ABG achieve its development goals in the space of family planning. “Your willingness and commitment to re-engage with our region given our past history is greatly appreciated so I give you assurance that we are committed to fostering a conducive and enabling environment that can result in all of us achieving our shared goals of increasing family planning access to our local population.” Dr Pokote described the partnership as the cornerstone for more sustainable family planning programs and said it was important for the future plans of Bougainville. “It is our hope that through this partnership which will act as a cornerstone to more sustainable family planning programs, progress can be made in increasing the awareness to our general population.” “Thus, we can normalize and increase the acceptance and uptake of family planning or better future planning services in Bougainville,” Dr Pokote said. Mr Nagul stated in conclusion, “Through the generous funding of the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Marie Stopes PNG has embarked on renewing its partnership with ABG Department of Health to support Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for the people of AROB and PNG.” “The goal of the project is to create awareness and educate our citizens on the importance of spacing our children to ensure families can prosper within their financial means.”