Friday 8th October It is after 5pm in the afternoon here at Goroka town and curfew has already started around this time. The busy crowd quickly deserted the town before 4pm to escape from the curfew but not the real issue which has gripped the province in weeks, killing many as it continues to spread. Back in the isolation wards at the Goroka Hospital, the crying, anguish, pain and agony echoes throughout the evening. The sun sets behind the isolation ward, an indication of another night in the ward fighting for their lives. A woman sits outside the isolation ward, looking towards the sunset as she weeps for a loved one she just lost to COVID-19. Another family with their faces covered with charcoal say, they have waited two weeks to take their loved one home for burial but there are other dead bodies that are still being swabbed for COVID-19 so they wait. Outside the morgue lies four coffins that relatives have put there for the health officers to place their dead loved ones in as they cannot go near the bodies. An ambulance flashes its’ emergency lights and rushes in to the already crowded isolation ward with another patient that urgently needs oxygen. A frontline health worker rushes out from one of the wards and tells the CEO of the hospital that they just ran out of oxygen and the patients are in distress begging for oxygen. The frontline nurse looks worn out, drained and she’s about to cry as her eyes pace around the hospital area looking for any remaining oxygen cylinder that might still have some oxygen left. This has been the scenario at the hospital day in day out since the beginning of September. The COVID-19 surge has spread through the Eastern Highlands Province with great force overpowering the health workforce they have in the province. The hospital has currently admitted more than 60 patients with all the beds at isolation ward and emergency ward all taken up by severe cases of COVID-19. While the hospital is trying its’ best to handle the increased number of cases every day, the hospital management is faced with three challenges; they need more manpower, a constant supply of oxygen and more beds for the patients. Chief Executive Officer for the hospital Dr Joseph Apa said 46% of their staff are old and at the retiring stage of their career, therefore the hospital’s staff on strength are unable to handle the number of patients that come into the hospital every day. Dr Apa said they have recruited 53 staff on short term contracts in early March which costed the hospital K84,000 per fortnight but they will still recruit for this month as they need more manpower. “We are recruiting another 50 short term contract staff for the hospital and another 50 staff for the districts health services which will cost us K84,000 per fortnight for both the hospital and the districts.” Meanwhile the hospital still needs a constant supply of Oxygen to keep patients going until they recover. The 60 patients admitted in the hospital use up to 240 oxygen cylinders in a day which is a huge demand and challenge the hospital is being faced with. “We used up so much money on logistics to bring in the oxygen and it costs us K20,670 for nine oxygen cylinders, that’s how costly it is,” said Dr Apa. Dr Apa also pointed out the need for more beds in the hospital given limited number of beds they now have which is 40 in the isolation ward and 20 in the Emergency Department.

PNG Air wishes to advise our customers and the travelling public that due to the recent surge of Covia-19 cases in Eastern Highlands Province, all scheduled PNG Air flights into Goroka are now suspended, effective 9th  October 2021 This suspension will be in place for one week, while PNG Air works closely with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authorities, National Control Centre and all stakeholders for safe resumption of services. Our Call Centre team will be in contact with customers who nave purchased tickets for inbound and outbound Goroka travel for further advisories. Flights to all other ports remain schedules; however, passengers must fill out Air Passenger Travel Forms (APTF} at the Sales Office when purchasing tickets, and the Health Declaration Form upon arrival at your destination Compliance with all other domestic travel measures, including wearing of facemasks onboard all PNG Air services, and nana sanitizing remain mandatory. Our locos remains on safety, and that includes maintaining the health and well-being of all our passengers, flight crews and staff. PNG Air sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause, ana appreciates your understanding during this time.

The U.S. Embassy hosted its first ever virtual workshop for ten aspiring and established professional women in the information communication technology (ICT) space. The four-day virtual ‘Empowering Women in ICT’ workshop began on September 27-30, 2021, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby. The workshop is in line with the U.S. Embassy’s mission goal priorities in terms of overall economic prosperity for all through its women empowerment initiatives, with funding from the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB)– through their Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise (POWER) program. The Embassy’s long-standing partnership with ExxonMobil PNG made it possible for these women in ICT to share and network their diverse experiences in the field of Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The workshop was facilitated by Deena White Tearney, founder and CEO for Pacific Point, a Salesforce Consulting Partner based in Hawaii with locations in Denver, Sydney, and Singapore. Pacific Point successfully implements valuable solutions on the Salesforce platform for clients across a wide range of industries from large enterprises, small to medium business, not for profit organizations and public sector government. The workshop had participants from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Island and Vanuatu, specifically ambitious women who have turned into ICT entrepreneurs. Participants of the workshop have used ICT as a tool for their start up business and non-profit organizations to interact, explore challenges and best practice for growth, create networks, market opportunities and establish partnerships. Vanuatu participant, Irene Irek expressed gratitude for such a workshop. “I am so glad to have participated in this workshop, I learnt useful ICT tools that I will be using in my businesses back in Vanuatu,” said Irene. The workshop has created meaningful networks for prospects within and beyond the ICT boundaries, with each dynamic participant determined to grow their business further.

A total of 27 students will be severely affected by the discontinuation of the New Ireland Government’s Governor’s School of Excellence Program. This comes after Lihir Royalties that is the major source of funding have been transferred to the Namatanai and Kavieng District Authorities. The implications for the students include their parents not being able to afford the International Standard Education School fees, Securing spaces in other NIP schools will be difficult as they are already full, safe and timely transfer of students academic record remains a risk, unless it is managed well by higher Authorities such as the head of the Department of Education and Provincial Education Board. To help remedy the foreseeable implications the New Ireland Government during its Provincial Executive Council meeting on Tuesday moved to financially support the current batch of Scholarship students until they complete their Education at the OLSH International School. The Governor’s School of Excellence was established in 2019. The program is part of the seven components of the New Ireland Government’s Free and Subsidized Education Policy. This program has two key components School of Excellence and Teacher Excellence Program. The goal of the program is to increase the level of student’s academic performance  and teacher performance in the province. Which has been successfully achieved and ideally this Government wishes to continue these scholarships  but funds used for Education subsidies and other projects were transferred illegally over to the two District Development Authorities making it impossible to sustain budgeted projects and programs. The Scholarships are offered to the top performing primary and secondary school students from the outer and more rural parts of the province to undertake the excellence program implemented or run in an international standard learning environment. Updating the Provincial Executive Council, CEO for Government Subsidy Mactil Bais said “Since 2019 the New Ireland Government has gone way beyond its target by issuing 94 scholarships, almost 100% more.” In 2020 nine pioneer scholars graduated with a grade 12 certificate. “ They all performed exceptionally well and secured placements in various Tertiary Institutions across the country. New Ireland is now ranked one of the top five performing provinces with its grade 10’s ranked 3rd  in the country and grade 12’s ranked 5th in the country. This is a big improvement from its ranking of second last in the country 10 years ago.

On Thursday 7th of October, 2021, the Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Mr. Kuniyuki Nakahara, was the guest of honour at the Napapar Primary School in East New Britain province, for the opening ceremony of new classrooms funded by the Japanese Government. In March, this year, the Embassy of Japan, under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), made available to Napapar Primary School a grant worth up to K271, 616.00 (approximately US$ 79,447) for the construction of 1 x double classroom building aimed at addressing the serious shortage of classrooms due to an increase in the number of students. Now that the new facilities are completed the school will have a much better learning and teaching environment for the students and teachers. In his speech, Ambassador Nakahara congratulated Napapar Primary School on its successful completion of the project, adding the remarks below; “Education is not only a vital tool to acquire knowledge and skills but also an investment for the future development. Through this project, the Government of Japan is pleased to support the PNG Government’s efforts to improve the education sector. These classrooms are gifts from the people of Japan. Please look after these classrooms well, so that they will not only benefit you now but many more who will attend this school in the future, such as your little brothers and sisters, or even your child. Finally, I sincerely hope that this project will contribute towards strengthening the friendship between the people of Japan and East New Britain and will also contribute towards fostering a partnership between the two countries. Tenk yu tru, olgeta, and boina tuna!” Japan, as one of the major donors of the official development assistance for Papua New Guinea, launched GGP in 1989 for the purpose of reducing poverty and helping various communities engaged in grassroots activities. GGP is contributing to “empowering the people through improved education and life skills” targeted by Papua New Guinea Vision 2050. As of October 2021, 303 grassroots projects funded by GGP have been implemented through NGOs, local government units and other non-profit organizations including hospitals and schools. The total grant projects so far amount to K54.2 million (US$19.9 million).

Newly retired Australian cricketer, Kath Hempenstall has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the women’s national cricket team, the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas. Kath, who has over a decade of experience, played for the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) before her retirement. She was awarded by the Australian Cricketers Association, the Legacy Award in Western Australia 2019-2020. The 33-year-old is an experienced coach having coached and assistant coached at clubs in Victoria and Perth, Australia and is looking forward to working more closely with the Cricket PNG coaching staff and the Lewas. Currently based in Australia, she is working with the team on ground on progressive work for the women’s team, saying their home training matches are crucial and a chance for them to assess themselves. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the world over, it is quite the same for Kath and the Lewas. This has caused cancellations and postponements of home matches for the Lewas squad, and as also kept Kath in Australia and will mean she will likely first meet the team in person in Zimbabwe. However, she has already met the team via Zoom and it was, as she says, a great opportunity to put faces to names. As preparations for final selections for will be done in Port Moresby with only four weeks to go, Kath continues to work alongside the PNG team. After the final team for the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas is announced she will be meeting the team in Zimbabwe for the World Cup Qualifiers. Kath says participating in the qualifiers will be great for the team because it has been quite a while since playing other international teams. ‘The Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas have great potential and the world cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe will be a good time to test the team.’ Amid COVID-19 restrictions and new measures in country, the Kumul Petroleum PNG Lewas continue to train and prepare in compliance. And new head coach Kath is looking forward to meeting the team in Zimbabwe, with their sights set on qualifying for the World Cup next year in New Zealand.

Western Highlands Province this week joined the list of high-risk provinces and is now the fourth province after Western, Eastern Highlands and West Sepik Province with an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, including deaths recorded at the Mt Hagen General Hospital this week. Acting CEO for the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority Jane Holden revealed that the province is the second in the highlands region to report an outbreak in COVID-19 cases and deaths with 25 reported deaths so far and 844 positive cases. “Of the 844 people testing positive to COVID-19, 61 of them are staff from the Mt Hagen Hospital. She said people are already responding to vaccination positively with the current situation in Goroka. Holden said the hospital was providing vaccination at the same time to interested members of the public and encouraged citizens to come forward and get the jab to be protected. “Due to high numbers of community transmission that started over the last couple of days in the four districts, we are inviting the public to get vaccinated. We are administering the Johnson & Johnson single jab vaccine as well as second dose for those who already received the first dose.” The Mt Hagen hospital outpatient services have all been stopped while only services the hospital is providing for at this time is the TB clinic, the HIV and AIDS clinic and the antenatal clinic. Acting CEO Jane Holden said the management had to take such measures to protect sick people in the wards while they attend to COVID-19 patients. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WHP-NOW-HIGH-RISK-PROVINCE-.mp3"][/audio] (Voice: Acting CEO for Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, Jane Holden) Picture credit: Akapite Gamae

All recent deaths from COVID-19 recorded at the Port Moresby General Hospital so far are persons who have not been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccines. Dr Maria Moguma from the hospital's COVID-19 ICU ward revealed this at the B4H (Businesses for Health) Private sector monthly Zoom Meeting this week. She said apart from that, there has been no deaths of children or persons below the age 18. She also made known that two pregnant mothers have succumbed to the disease so far while encouraging the vaccination for pregnant mums. Port Moresby General Hospital CEO Dr. Paki Molumi has said this week that the positivity rate had increased from 30% late last month to 70% this week, meaning every 10 patients reporting cough, flu, running nose and fever when tested for COVID, seven of them were positive. “So far there has been three COVID-19 related deaths and another 92 patients admitted to PMGH. Our 19-bed isolation ward is full. A medical ward was opened up to accommodate the numbers.” He said in the coming days they will improve the capacity at Taurama Aquatic Centre’s isolation facility to take on moderate cases so PMGH can be freed up to return to normal to provide other service after the two weeks of scale down. As well as that, he indicated that the demand for oxygen at the city’s referral hospital was very high with more and more patients admission to the wards.

The Port Moresby General Hospital just confirmed three COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. This is following the increase of positivity cases from 33% on the 27th of September 2021 to 70% as of today. Chief Executive officer of the hospital, Dr Paki Molumi confirmed that there are currently 92 COVID-19 patients admitted at the hospital. "This means that in every 10 patients with cough, flu, running nose and fever who have been tested for COVID-19, seven of these patients tested positive to COVID-19." "Our 19-bed isolation ward is full and we've opened up another medical ward to cater for the increasing numbers." said Dr Molumi. He said they will move some of the patients over to the Nightingale Taurama Aquatic Centre during the two weeks of scale down of operations in order to free up some space for normal services at the hospital. "In the coming days, we will improve the capacity at the Nightingale Taurama Aquatic Centre to take on moderate cases so that PMGH can be freed up and return to normal to provide other services after the two weeks of scale down." Meanwhile the hospital management is recruiting for short term contract health workers that can really assist with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients. "We need 30 nurses and 10 doctors for Short term Contract." Dr Molumi said they will be recruiting from the different divisions and departments within the hospital to make up the number of doctors and nurses needed. An internal Memo was issued this week by the CEO Dr Molumi to all the divisions in the hospital for staff to submit their names.

Trukai Industries Limited has announced its sponsorship worth K60,000 for the Hiri Moale Festival’s Vanagi Heau Helulu (canoe race).   This year Trukai will be the naming rights sponsor of the one-day canoe race event. The agreement signed is a three-year agreement between the Hiri Moale Festival Committee and Trukai Industries Ltd.   This K60,000 will go towards the prize money and the preparation of the race.   Trukai Industries Chief Executive Officer, Alan Preston said Trukai has once again proved its support for events that foster and promote cultural preservation.   “Trukai is inspired by communities that work to preserve their cultural practices and traditions in such modern and diverse times. And this sponsorship continues to signify Trukai’s rich history embedded in PNG’s culture”   “Also in these special times we must be aware of the current pandemic and celebrate in a safe manner by following the Niupela Pasin.”   It is anticipated that there will be 60 to 80 canoes participating in this year’s canoe race.   Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly Dadi Toka said the agreement to host the first ever Trukai Vanagi Vanagi Heau Helulu (canoe race) will be the biggest of its kind in the Nation’s Capital.   “We are very excited to announce that the winner of the A-Grade Vanagi division will take home K10,000, the prize money for the other winners is quite substantial and we thank Trukai Industries for their support.”   The Vanagi Race is part of the three day Hiri Moale Festival which will take place on 20th November.  

SP PNG Hunters have re-appointed Matt Church as coach for the 2022 Intrust Super Cup season. The Hunters board voted unanimously for Church to remain at the helm for next season after he steered the team through the challenges of 2021 when it was forced to relocate to southeast Queensland due to Covid travel restrictions. The Hunters have confirmed that the team will return to Queensland throughout 2022 due to the ongoing international Covid travel challenges. “We are delighted to reappoint Matt Church given how he and his staff handled a difficult year,” Hunters Chairman Mr Stan Joyce CSM said. “The Hunters played extremely well in parts of this season and we know what the team is capable of with the 2021 experience under their belts. Matt is a high-quality coach and he has put in place the building blocks for an exciting 2022.” Church thanked the Hunters board and said he was already looking forward to next season. “I’m really pleased to extend my role as Hunters Coach – it’s a role I take great pride in,” Church said. “I would like to thank Hunters Chairman Stan Joyce and the Hunters board members for their faith in me. “This year threw up numerous challenges but next year brings with it similar tests so the benefit of experience will be significant for us. Our players developed strongly this year by living through these challenges and I know they will be ready to go again in 2022. “I would like to acknowledge Hunters’ sponsors, partners and stakeholders during these times and personally I’d finally like to thank my wife and family for their love and support. I look forward to being back in front of the group and leading the Hunters towards a strong year in 2022." Mr Joyce said the Hunters would complete their pre-season preparations in Port Moresby from mid-November until the end of January before relocating to Queensland. “The board has to begin preparations for next season and, without the prospect of quarantine-free travel in the short-term, we must look towards another season based in Queensland,” Mr Joyce said. “While we would love to play at home again, we must ensure that the Hunters continue to play in the Intrust Super Cup, further developing our pathways to the highest levels of rugby league.” The Hunters played excellent football at times in 2021, defeating preliminary finalists Tweed Seagulls late in the season and falling by only two points to this weekend’s grand finalists Wynnum Manly.

Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) and the Public Services Commission (PSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop an agency-level anti-corruption strategy for the PSC. This initiative is part of TIPNG’s Promoting Anti-Corruption and Integrity Strategies (PAIS) Project funded by the European Union to strengthen public trust in national integrity institutions. “TIPNG welcomes the decision by the PSC to partner with us through an MoU for the development of an anti-corruption strategy that will support the mandate of the PSC. We commend the leadership demonstrated by the Commission in signing an MoU to develop an agency-level anti-corruption strategy. This decision speaks to the foresight of the Commission in ensuring that it is further equipped to fulfil its constitutional role.” “The development of internal anti-corruption strategies was identified as a priority by the PNG national government, under the National Anti-corruption Strategy 2010-2030. While there has been almost no uptake of this national policy over the past 11 years, our current drive to partner with national agencies in aiding them to develop these internal integrity strategies, directly supports the improvement of integrity standards across the PNG public sector. To this end, we invite other agencies to join this initiative and embrace the opportunity to develop and implement active measures to improve the integrity of their internal systems and processes. As well as to restore public trust in our national institutions,” said TIPNG Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Arianne Kassman in a media statement. The PSC is an independent constitutional office, established under Section 191 of the PNG Constitution. The Review of Personnel Matters is a core function of the Commission under Section 18 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended). Additionally, the PSC is also mandated to execute powers under Sections 193 and 208B of the National Constitution relating to the appointment, suspension and/or revocation of appointment of Departmental Heads, Provincial Administrators and Heads of Regulatory Statutory Authorities. TIPNG through the PAIS Project will be working with state agencies to develop internal anti-corruption strategies in 2021, which will be shared with citizens and journalists so that they can more effectively engage with the public sector to take action against corruption. This work has been informed by TIPNG’s 2021 National Integrity System Assessment (NISA) Report which found that all 14 National Integrity pillars in PNG were less than adequate. Furthermore, the NISA identified a clear integrity gap between the existing laws and practice by agencies. The internal anti-corruption strategies developed by TIPNG in partnership with selected agencies will go towards bridging this integrity gap.