Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital welcomed a high-level delegation yesterday, September 02nd, 2025, led by Dr. Saia Mau Piukala, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific. The visit aimed to strengthen the province’s response to the recent polio outbreak and highlight the importance of community-driven health services.
Dr. Piukala was joined by WHO officials and Ms. Miriam Carter from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as senior managers from the National Department of Health. They met with Jane Holden, Acting CEO of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA), along with the authority’s directors and managers.
The discussions were focused on enhancing coordination efforts, maintaining strong immunization coverage, and ensuring that frontline health workers receive the support that they need. Dr. Piukala, in his third visit to Papua New Guinea, emphasized the value of understanding local health systems to make impactful changes.
“Ending polio in PNG requires strong leadership, community trust, and unified action. I am here in the Western Highlands to listen, to learn, and to reaffirm WHO’s commitment to supporting communities across the country,” said Dr Piukala.
He lauded Dr. Paulus Ripa and his Cervical Cancer Clinic team for their remarkable achievements in screening and vaccination, calling their work nothing short of impressive. Furthermore, he stressed the urgency of delivering primary health care directly to rural communities, stating, “We must proactively go out to the rural areas and bring health information to the people, rather than passively waiting for them to seek help when they are sick. This is the most effective and cost-efficient way to serve our communities.”
Dr. Piukala praised Ms. Holden’s leadership and called for stronger partnerships, stating emphatically, “We need each other.” He also acknowledged the relentless dedication of healthcare workers across the province and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to providing essential technical support and guidance.
The visit comes at a crucial time as the country works to contain the resurgence of polio after more than a decade and is actively rolling out a nationwide polio vaccination campaign following the outbreak declared in May of this year (2025).
Western Highlands Province responded decisively, becoming one of the first to launch the campaign, with current coverage standing at 78.6%.
Meanwhile, Dr. Piukala also took the time to visit the Wellness Clinic, the HPV vaccination mobile clinic, and later travelled to the Togoba Health Centre, reinforcing the commitment to accessible health services for all.
