MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY The Aotearoa New Zealand moblisation of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty more >>

Report recommends action to fight poverty in PNG

19 October 2006

A report released this week by the cross-party New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development (NZPPD), makes recommendations to New Zealand, Australian and Papua New Guinean MPs and the international donor community of action needed to fight poverty in Papua New Guinea.

The report is the result of a study tour for parliamentarians and media to PNG that took place in April this year focusing on issues relating to poverty, including HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, maternal and child health, and the environment.

New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) Chair Steve Chadwick, Vice-Chair Dr Paul Hutchison (National), and member Tim Barnett took part in the week-long visit. Australian Federal Labour MP Duncan Kerr also participated in the study tour, as well as journalists from TVNZ, the New Zealand Herald and the New Zealand Listener.

Organised by the New Zealand Family Planning Association’s international development unit (FPAID) and funded by the Asia Pacific Alliance, the study tour included visits to hospitals, village communities and non-government organisations in Port Moresby and Lae, as well as meetings with officials and parliamentarians.

Ms Chadwick said the visit provided an opportunity to develop the relationship between New Zealand and Pacific MPs who share a commitment to addressing issues of poverty in the region.

“Recommendations made in this report aim to help strengthen ties between New Zealand, Australian and PNG MPs,” Ms Chadwick said.

The report outlines themes that emerged during the study tour relating to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in PNG. Within each theme, the group has made recommendations for action, with suggestions as to who should be responsible for each action.

For example, one key theme that emerged during the study tour was the need for political leadership if the MDGs are to be achieved in PNG, Ms Chadwick said.

Recommendations around this theme include:

• Establishing mentoring partnerships between parliamentarians in New Zealand and Australia with parliamentarians in PNG to foster accountability and build political leadership.
• Resourcing PNG’s  Parliamentary AIDS Committee with secretarial support, and establishing an exchange programme to assist establishment of secretariat support for the committee.

Within the remaining thematic areas, other key recommendations include:

• Providing sustainable and predictable funding in core programme areas.
• Promoting increased coordination and collaboration around a country plan for PNG between UN agencies, the PNG Government and donors.
• Building accountability and transparency so that funding reaches the provincial level, particularly in relation to the Provincial AIDS Councils.
• Re-examining policy to ensure that all those that need anti-retroviral treatment for AIDS receive it, and if required are given the necessary support and nutrition to enable them to take the medication effectively and safely.
• Establishing health clinics at schools
• Developing a standardised, consistent and compulsory sexual and reproductive health component of the school curriculum, and ensuring that teachers are give the training and support to deliver it.
• Improving the collection, analysis and distribution of data and statistics on sexual and reproductive heath, including HIV and AIDS.
• Establishing a “champions” community leaders scheme in all sectors to raise awareness and break down taboos around issues such as SRH, HIV and AIDS and violence against women.
• Exploring the use of advocacy workshops for civil society in PNG focussed on building constructive relationships between civil society and government.

View the report.

ENDS

Did you know that every minute around the world...
•	one woman dies from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
•	10 teenage girls undergo an unsafe abortion.
•	13 infants under 12 months die
•	57 people catch an STI
•	11 people are infected with HIV
•	the population increases by 150 people

Family Planning Saves Lives.  Click here to find out more.   Click here for the latest headlines in International Family Planning, Population, Reproductive Health and the Environment.