Kokoda Hospital in Oro (Northern) Province will provide better services to 25 thousand people in the Kokoda region following a 1.1 million Kina refurbishment of its facilities.
The project, co-funded by the Australian Government and the Oro Provincial Government under the Papua New Guinea ̵Australia Partnership and Kokoda Initiative, was officially opened on the 80th Anniversary of the Kokoda Campaign in November 2022.
The refurbishments will promote high quality and equitable health care for communities in the northern regions of the Kokoda Track with improved access for persons with disabilities, extensive repairs to maternity and
pediatric wards, antenatal clinics and the hospital ablutions and the provision of vaccine fridges.
Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp attended the opening of the refurbished hospital alongside Oro Governor, the Gary Juffa, local member Henry Amuli MP, and Governor for Central Province, Rufina Peter MP, and Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Isi Leonard MP.
This project is one of many initiatives of the partnership between the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea to improve health services and outcomes in the PNG. Australia supports a broad portfolio of health
initiatives covering communicable diseases, maternal and child health, health systems strengthening, the COVID-19 response and health infrastructure.
Mr. Juffa said “Oro Provincial Government is happy to co-finance the project and improve access to vaccinations, maternal and child health clinics and in-patient services for expectant mothers and children”.
Australian High Commissioner said, “together, PNG and Australia are working to achieve goals set out in PNG’s new National Health Plan, and to realize the PNG Government’s ambitions for the health sector: access to quality health facilities close to where people live, in rural and urban areas across PNG.”