Health issues are insurmountable anywhere in this world . All nations have issues peculiar to them and their standards of living. Health can also be seen as a general Economic Indicator, according to Health Minister, Dr. Lino Tom who says PNG on all fronts is struggling to reach its targets. “We have a good health plan and hopefully all stakeholders do their part so we reach our targets by 2030. All plans are only as good as the funding they require and off course implementation on the part of the department." Since 2020, the health sector has seen an increase in its budget by about 30%. Even then, Dr. DR Lino says it’s not the ideal level that the health department envisage but in terms of appropriation per sector, the health sector has gotten the biggest slice, thanks to Prime Minister James Marape and Treasurer Ian Ling Stuckey. “However, we will still face a shortfall of over K120 million for medical supplies from outstanding arrears over the last few years. In order to address this issue, we will have to source the cheapest options in our region without compromising quality.” The only way to do this will be to go into State to State Agreements so that the health sector can deal straight with the factories and get the lowest price possible at least for basic drugs and supplies, says Dr Lino. He added that this approach is supported by WHO and other development agencies. “Our SMEs and businesses can supply the nonessential medical consumables. Our people must not suffer at the expense of profiteering enterprises. Health services must be affordable to everyone regardless, as envisaged by our Government.” Dr Lino has addressed the rise of lifestyle diseases stating that the four biggest killers are Cancer; Heart Diseases with Stroke and Kidney diseases. A fully functional Intervention Cardiology Unit has been established to address heart and other Ischaemic diseases like stroke. It is now doing very complex cases only done in highly specialized centres throughout the world. He also said that new specialized theatres must be built to complement this service.

The total number of babies born on Christmas Day at the Port Moresby General Hospital Labour Ward stands at a total of 32. Of the 32, 12 were girls and 20 were boys. A pair of twin boys were among the 32 born. Three of the births were via Cesarean-section, two via vacuum process and the rest were normal. In addition, on Boxing Day, about 37 babies were born. Of the 37, 22 were boys and 14 were baby girls. Three of the births were through Cesarean-section, one via vacuum and the rest were normal. A pair of twins were also part of the number of babies born on Boxing Day. Team Leader Sr. Glennys Naisy-Param said it has been relatively quiet at the Labour Ward compared to previous years. She explained that the number of mothers coming in to deliver is manageable so it hasn't been quite hectic for the staff.

Wests Tigers recruit David Klemmer is confident the style in which Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall want to bring to the NRL side will help turn recent results around in 2023. Klemmer is adamant he is walking into a club on the rise as the representative front-rower spoke openly about his departure from Newcastle. The trade deal that involved Klemmer and Knights halfback Jackson Hastings is expected to pay off evenly after both clubs missed the finals in 2022. Klemmer will provide vital experience for a young forward pack that will also be led by former Eel Isaiah Papali'i and premiership-winner Api Koroisau. The 29-year-old joins the Wests Tigers on a four-year deal, giving him long-term security he wasn't guaranteed at the Knights. "Clubs have different cultures and I just wanted to make sure I came down here and brought a good standard to the group," Klemmer told Ask the Boss. "It’s been eye-opening seeing how this club operates and the vision Benji [Marshall] and Sheensy [Tim Sheens] have brought to the squad so far, it’s a breath of fresh air for myself. "I know the Tigers didn’t have a good year last year, Knights didn’t have a good year either. But the way [we] played against the top eight and top four teams last year was really appealing. "And the way Benji and Sheensy want to play footy, it’s going to suit this team a lot. We’ve just got to make sure we’ve got the calibre on the field and do it for a whole year not just a couple of weeks. "I see a lot of potential. As soon as I made the decision, I was pretty content with it and pretty happy. I made the right one." Klemmer will have familiar faces around him with Sheens among those who have played a part in his NRL career previously. Sheens handed Klemmer his international debut for the Kangaroos while assistant coaches Robbie Farah (Origin) and David Furner (Knights assistant) have previously worked with the former Blues hardman. "How I go about my business in and around training and off the field and making sure I’m doing the right things [is how I want to be judged]," Klemmer said. "I just want to help the boys coming through and make sure I’m a good role model for them. A lot of them are between just starting and only a couple years of experience so if they do take anything from what I do, I’ll be stoked. "They’ve been trying to make it since they were little fellas as well so if I can help them in any way I’ll be stoked." Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe also explained why the club agreed to the Klemmer-Hastings trade deal to and the former Knights forward. "It’s a pretty young squad so we were obviously looking for someone who had international experience, State of Origin experience and someone who’s a leader," Pascoe said. "All the conversations we’ve had with people about [Klemmer] has been about the high standard and the values he's had. "Obviously we spoke about the family values which are really strong to this club but also the leadership qualities and the fact that you don’t accept people not operating to the standard that you will buy into. "So for us it was pretty easy…we were ecstatic when [he] decided to commit to the club." Source: NRL.Com

K19, 000.00 in total was used to fly home Samarai-Murua District Tertiary students across the country to spend time with their families during this festive season. The Office of the Member for Samarai Murua confirms that 14 tertiary students will benefit from this exercise. MP Isi Henry Leonard has prioritized education as an important sector for the district and even during the festive period, pushed for all students to be flown home to Alotau then to the district from there on. “It is important that our tertiary students go home to spend time with their families, recoup and prepare again for the new year." “Education is a sector we are constantly working on to improve in our district and one way is to ensure our tertiary students are home during the festive period to help their families." Two students have flown home already but 12 remaining students will fly home this week in time to spend New Year January 1st celebrations with MP Mr Leonard and his officials at Bwagaoia Station on Misima island. This sponsorship of the tertiary students was made possible through the District Development Authority education program. This school fee support helps a lot of parents who are simple fishermen and subsistence farmers in the district. Mr Leonard added this will continue for the coming new year 2023 as well.

Congratulations to the eight Papua New Guinean clinicians who successfully completed the Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) instructor training course in Port Moresby recently. The three-day instructor training course provided interactive and hands-on learning on the emergency management of ill and injured children. Participants included Paediatric and Emergency physicians, Anaesthetists as well as one General Practitioner from hospitals across PNG including Port Moresby General Hospital, Goroka, ANGAU Memorial Provincial Hospital and Nonga. With these eight new instructors, PNG now has a total of 16 APLS instructors who have the knowledge and skills to train other clinicians and health care professionals to provide high quality care to children with life threatening emergencies. This instructor training course was delivered by APLS Faculty members from Australia and PNG through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, funded through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Three islands of Lihir- Mali, Masahet and Mahur communities, health center’s/ aid post and schools have been lit up with Solar power and lights under the New Ireland policy of Lighting Up New Ireland as a development initiative of Governor  Sir Julius Chan. Contractor JWK Ltd completed installation of six (6) 3KVA Solar System, one (1) 5KVA Solar System, thirteen (13) Solar Street Lights and six hundred and thirty two (632) Household Solar Kit on Mali and Masahet Island on the Lihir group of islands as of 8th December 2022. In early January 2023, the contractor JWK Ltd will re- commence work on Mahur Island to install one (1) 5KVA Solar System, three (3) 3KVA Solar System and eight (8) Solar Street Lights. Acting Governor and Tikana LLG President Sammy Missen on behalf of the New Ireland Government congratulated the Nimamar LLG for putting to good use their Special Support Grants ( SSG ). “It is no easy feat delivering such a project. We thank the leaders of Nimamar LLG  for having the vision and foresight to deliver  this Solar project. We also acknowledge the diligent work of contractor JWK Ltd. We call on Newcrest mining to partner with the LLG to carryout more community impact projects like this one. It should automatically come as an obligation because you are operating on their land.” said Sammy Missen. Locals from the project areas expressed gratitude for the Solar System and Lightings. They said, “It will now transform our local environment by lighting up the schools, health centers & aid post, churches and villages. Our community meetings and special events can also be held in the evenings.” Acting Governor Sammy Missen said the New Ireland Government has always maintained good working relations with all LLG's and Development partners and will continue to do so for the betterment of all New Irelanders. “We must work together to transform NIP. Having Tripartite cooperation’s is the way to go especially where there is a resource company in the LLG. Every New Irelander, from new born’s to Lapuns,  deserves a better quality of life and it is our duty as a government, development partners and businesses to provide that,” said Sammy Missen.

Air Niugini has again successfully passed the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) giving the airline validation for the next two years. The IOSA certificate is a global industry standard for airline operational safety auditing. For two decades, IOSA has become the industry benchmark in safety auditing, contributing to improving safety performance. IOSA certification ensures airlines are compliant with safety requirements and recommended practices determined by IATA and is an internationally recognized and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline. Under IOSA, accredited auditors assess Air Niugini’s operational management and control systems, including the areas of corporate organization and management, flight operations, operational control, flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, aircraft ground handling, cargo operations and operational security Air Niugini’s Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Alabaster said this achievement provides continued assurance that Air Niugini meets world class safety and security standards as measured against IATA’s global benchmark. “At Air Niugini, safety is always our highest priority. It is expressed in everything we do and we are pleased to be one of the few airlines and the only one in PNG audited and certified under the IOSA program, and we remain very proud of maintaining that safety record yet again this year.” Certification enables airlines to review safety processes using a worldwide standard that has become the single internationally accepted safety and security audit process for airlines. Mr Alabaster added “With IOSA certification and auditing, passengers can have comfort in knowing that an IOSA certified airline complies with the most stringent of rules and practices governing aviation safety. It is also one of the prerequisites for codeshare agreements with other international carriers” IOSA certification renewal is every two years with Air Niugini’s latest expiring in October 2024. Air Niugini has successfully passed 9 IOSA audits since 2009 and with every audit, the airline has continuously endeavoured to improve its systems and processes and build the safety conscience of its staff.

Deputy Governor of NCD, Hon Dadi Toka has confirmed that NCD Governor, Hon. Powes Parkop has had a recent health concern that resulted in his hospitalization last week. The health issue was described as complications arising from a cardiac procedure performed recently that led to internal bleeding. Toka confirmed Governor Parkop is currently in a stable condition and recovering. Toka added Governor Parkop was admitted to Port Moresby General Hospital and then Pacific International Hospital here in the Nation’s Capital for treatment. He was then medevacked to Gold Coast University Hospital on 23rd December. Toka went on to say that he is receiving regular medical updates from the care givers at the Gold Coast University Hospital. The comprehensive health screening conducted in the last two days confirmed Governor Parkop is recovering well. Toka in a media statement praised the level of intervention by the team of health professionals at Port Moresby General Hospital and Pacific International Hospital. “We have medevacked him to Australia as per medical advice from the hospital team and consultation with the Parkop family. The medical services required to stabilize his condition are not available in country, and he requires a specialized facility to recover and minimize any further medical risks”. NCDC is grateful and appreciative of the medical teams both from Port Moresby General Hospital and Pacific International Hospital including the Medical Rescue International medevac team for providing intensive care to Governor Parkop. Deputy Governor Toka thanked all residents of Port Moresby and everyone throughout the country for holding the Governor in their prayers and we ask that you to continue to keep our Governor in your prayers during his road to recovery.

A man who recently completed a 17 year jail term for killing a man was assaulted for his crime at Konedobu today. Police intervened quickly and arrested a young man in his twenties for assaulting the ex-convict. The former prisoner was walking up Lawes Road when his assailant struck but police intervened immediately and arrested his attacker. The ex-convict sustained minor injuries to his head when he was saved by members of Sector Patrol Fox 100. The young man told police, that his father was stabbed to death at Konedobu. The policemen told the suspect that it was wrong for him to attack the ex-convict, who was jailed for his crime. The suspect was taken to Badili Police Station and is expected to be charged for assault.

Family members of Brazilian soccer superstar Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known as Pelé, gathered by his hospital bed on Christmas Eve as he faces health challenges. The 82-year-old former forward was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021. Earlier this week, the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo said in a statement the colon cancer had advanced and Pelé was in "elevated care" around kidney and heart "dysfunctions." His daughter Kely Nascimento posted an image on Instagram Saturday showing family members sleeping by his side in the hospital. "We are still here in the fight and with faith. Another night together," she captioned the image. His son Edson Cholbi Nascimento, a coach and former player known as Edinho, also posted an image on Saturday from the hospital, showing the father and son holding hands. "Father... my strength is yours," he captioned the post. [caption id="attachment_33110" align="alignnone" width="949"] Supporters of Brazil pose for a photo with a banner of Pele prior to the match between Brazil and Cameroon at the FIFA World Cup, on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lusail, Qatar.[/caption] Pelé, widely considered one of the best soccer players in history, holds the Guinness World Record for Most Career Goals, scoring 1,279 goals in 1,363 between Sept. 7, 1956 and Oct. 1, 1977, and the only football player to have won three World Cups. Pelé announced his official retirement from soccer in 1974, however he decided to continue playing and joined the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos before retiring in 1977. FIFA granted a joint award to Pelé and Argentina's Diego Maradona in December 2000, naming them the Player of the Century. The International Olympic Committee named him the Athlete of the Century in 1999. After retiring from soccer, he was appointed to be a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1994, becoming the first athlete to receive that distinction. He was appointed a U.N. ambassador for ecology and the environment in 1992. Source: ABC News

Beijing is bankrolling a hospital for Papua New Guinea's Defence Force (PNGDF) in a move some analysts fear could eventually lead to a much deeper Chinese military presence in the Pacific nation. The project was publicly revealed by PNG's Chief of Defence last week during his end-of-year parade speech attended by dignitaries including China's new military attaché. "I am grateful to announce Chinese commitment to fund the constructions of the PNGDF Military Hospital at Taurama Barracks," Major General Mark Goina said at the event on December 16. "Work has commenced for our Defence Minister to sign the protocols for the use of the funds and scoping/design works of the Hospital in 2023," the PNGDF Commander added. According to General Goina, the Chinese-funded initiative would come "at a cost of 31 million [Papua New Guinean] Kina" or roughly just over $13 million. Taurama Barracks are located in PNG's capital Port Moresby and accommodated the Australian-led Pacific Islands Battalion during World War II. [caption id="attachment_33097" align="alignnone" width="872"] Mark Goina revealed the project at an end-of-year parade speech attended by dignitaries.(Supplied: Australian Department of Defence)[/caption] In 2007, Papua New Guinea signed a deal with Beijing for China to provide half a million US dollars for the maintenance and renovation of the existing medical facility at Taurama Barracks. During his speech, the PNG commander thanked the People's Liberation Army (PLA) for its "continued support with training and willingness to support us in areas that need capacity building". "We have reached the end of the first year of our Defence Force five-year plan, the 2022 to 2026 Intent," General Goina said. 'A military hospital one day, a military base the next' General Goina began his speech by acknowledging Australia as "our longest, and closest defence partner", declaring: "The long and enduring relationship of military partnership and dare I say it, mateship, between Papua New Guinea and Australia, is the most important to us." Australia's Defence Department declined to say when it became aware of the Chinese-funded project, telling the ABC "decisions made by the government of Papua New Guinea and PNGDF are a matter for Papua New Guinea". "Australia and Papua New Guinea have a close defence and security partnership focusing on areas of mutual priority and interest," a Defence spokesperson added. Australia and the United States are working to counter China's rising influence across the Pacific after being spooked by a security deal China struck with Solomon Islands in April. Just last week Australia helped to open a new 100-person accommodation block at PNG's Igam Barracks in Lae, at an event attended by High Commissioner Jon Philp as well as General Goina. Malcolm Davis from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute believes Australia should be wary of what else China has planned in PNG. "What you're likely to see in the Solomons could happen also in PNG – a military hospital one day, a military base the next – I think that's the thing we have to be aware of," Dr Davis told the ABC. "It's fairly clear that the PNG military are relying on China to a greater degree for capacity building and training purposes and ultimately where that leads is an increasing presence for the PLA in PNG and I think that's what we need to be cautious of." During a visit to Papua New Guinea in October, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia wanted to strike an "ambitious" security treaty with its northern neighbour as quickly as possible. Source: ABC News

Stephan Bonnar, the Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer who popularized the sport in the finale fight of the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show, died Thursday, the mixed martial arts promoter announced Saturday. Bonnar died from “presumed heart complications while at work,” the UFC said in a news release. He was 45. “Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” UFC President Dana White said in the release. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loved him, related to him and he always gave them his best. He will be missed.” Bonnar’s three-round light heavyweight final bout against Forrest Griffin in Las Vegas in 2005 saved the fledgling UFC, paving the way to the sport’s popularity today. The fight is in the company’s Hall of Fame fight wing, which recognizes “the greatest, most memorable and historically important UFC bouts.” Griffin won the epic match and was awarded a UFC contract. But the promotion also gave Bonnar a contract, too. “I knew it was a good fight during the fight,” Bonnar later said, according to the release. “It hit me when everyone started stomping their feet and it felt like the whole place was shaking. And that was in the second round. I was like ‘oooh, this must be good.’” “Everything changed. I didn’t think I’d have a UFC career,” he went on. “It was just a little hobby I was doing, so it changed everything. Almost overnight, I became like a celebrity. Everywhere I went, someone would recognize me, even in obscure places.” Known as “The American Psycho,” Bonnar fought Hall of Famers such as Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, Anderson Silva, and Tito Ortiz during his seven-year light heavyweight career. The Hammond, Indiana, native finished with a 17-9 UFC record, defeating fighters such as Krzysztof Soszynski, Igor Pokrajac, and James Irvin. Source: CNN News