Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea’s remote communities have limited access to clean water and healthcare. We have been partnering with the people of PNG and the New Zealand Aid Programme since 1974.

Papua New Guinea
  • Population7,619,000
  • Villages450
  • Temp25°C
Only 40 per cent of people in PNG have access to clean drinking water and remote communities are vulnerable to natural disasters that further threaten their water supply and leave them unable to access healthcare. The massive drought associated with the 2015/16 El Nino weather pattern had a major impact on water supply in many parts of the country. Without water, school attendance drops, maternal health is negatively affected, and disease can quickly spread..
 
There is also a tuberculosis epidemic in PNG. Rates of the disease are the highest in the Pacific, with an alarming increase in the drug resistant strain.
 

We are working to build communities where children can thrive in Papua New Guinea. We have already achieved great things.

of children under 2 years old sleep under a mosquito net in Madang compared to 11% when we started our project
village birth attendants have been trained to support pregnant women in remote villages in Madang
of homes now have one or more adults earning an income in Bogia, up from 22%

We're working to improve water quality in Hanuabada

We're working to improve water quality in Hanuabada

The people of Hanuabada have a reasonable knowledge of good hygiene behaviours, but water shortages have hindered good practice. Women line up daily at available water outlets, often using unsafe containers that risk contamination. Toilets in the stilt houses that are prominent in the area dispose waste directly into the sea. This contributes to water pollution and poses health dangers for children and families.

With financial support from the New Zealand Aid Programme and New Zealanders we are working alongside the Hanuabada community to increase improve the water supply and sanitation in the area.  

Together, we’re working to increase the consistency and volume of safe water, install rain water tanks and new types of toilets, promote recycling, composting and beautification of the environment and facilitate improved accountability between government, service providers, and the community.
Make real and lasting change in the lives of children and their communities in the Pacific