A significant proportion of Australia’s development aid to Papua New Guinea (PNG) is being repurposed to help PNG authorities to better prepare for and respond to COVID- 19.
The PNG Controller of the COVID-19 National Pandemic Response and the head of the country’s police force, David Manning, has released 11 new control measures to mitigate the spread of the pandemic in the country following a rapid increase of positive cases to more than 200 in a week. Among the 11 measures are the mandatory wearing of masks and strict measures regarding international and domestic travel.
The support from the Australian Government is being channeled through the PNG-Australia Partnership – a partnership that provides a framework allowing Australia and Papua New Guinea to work together in close cooperation to meet common challenges and to achieve improved development outcomes and sustainable improvements to the quality of life of all Papua New Guineans.
“As Papua New Guinea’s largest development partner, Australia has prioritized a portion of our development program funding to provide a package of COVID-19 support which includes support for medical supplies, funding to provinces to prepare for the pandemic and laboratory-testing capacity,” Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Hon Alex Hawke, said.
Australia’s assistance also includes:
Supporting PNG health institutions and systems as they prepare for and respond to the crisis by working with the country’s National Department of Health and partners such as Provincial Health Authorities, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and non-government organisations
Providing AUD11 million (PGK27.5 million) to date in direct funding to help provinces to prepare with over 2 million pieces of PPE to protect front-line workers, significant support to increase PNG’s testing capacity (sample collection kits, cartridges and rapid serology tests), 10 mobile health clinics, and community resilience and water and sanitation projects to support good hygiene;
Deploying an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) with medical and crisis response experts to provide an immediate on-the-ground assessment and to support improved case management, infection control, triage and emergency management, laboratory practices, and public health. The first team arrived on 4th August and Australia is planning a further AUSMAT deployment in consultation with the PNG government and subject to domestic considerations.
Realigning the PNG-Australia Policing Partnership (PNG-APP) to support Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) COVID-19 preparedness and response. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has been able to sustain its current deployment of 28 advisors in PNG and is working to bolster numbers over the coming months.
AFP members are working alongside the RPNGC in community policing operations, mentoring, and guiding with the implementation and enforcement of measures to prevent further community transmission. PNG-APP members are also working with the PNG government to develop policies and procedures which will positively position PNG in the recovery phase.
Raising community awareness by empowering PNG’s churches and non-government organisations to implement public information campaigns on good hygiene, reducing the risk of transmission and community resilience activities. These partnerships are also helping to staff the PNG COVID-19 emergency call center.
Mr. Hawke added that Australia has provided capacity-building and technical support, both in-country and through the Doherty Institute in Melbourne stating that:
“Australia has been standing with the region during this challenging time, working in partnership with Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to protect their communities from COVID-19. We will continue to do so”.
Increasing Australia’s commitment to its Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) with PNG.
You can learn more about the funding opportunities for Papua New Guinea on the DevelopmentAid platform, the Funding section.
