A new toll-free hotline, aimed at equipping girls across Papua New Guinea with vital health information, was officially launched today (Friday 18th, 2025) in Port Moresby city.
Known as the Oky Toky IVR Service, the initiative is a collaboration between Save the Children, UNICEF, and the Government of Papua New Guinea, with funding from the Australian Government through its Indo-Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights COVID-19 Surge Response Program.
By simply dialing ‘1565’ on any phone, girls can now access accurate, youth-friendly health information in Tok Pisin—making it accessible to those without smartphones or internet connectivity.
The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform delivers guidance through short stories and interactive quizzes on important topics such as menstrual health and hygiene, puberty, child marriage prevention, and referral pathways, all tailored to the PNG context.
This service builds on the success of the Oky PNG Period Tracker app, launched in 2024, and represents a major step toward inclusive access to reproductive health education for adolescent girls nationwide. The project was made possible through technical support from Digicel and the National Information & Communications Technology Authority (NICTA).
Lisa K. Piper, Country Director of Save the Children explained the impacts of the Oky app.
“We’ve seen how the Oky app empowered girls to better understand their health and make informed choices.”
“Now, with the launch of the 1565 IVR service in Tok Pisin, means that girls who do not access to technology like smartphones or internet can obtain crucial information anytime.”
Developed using a “do no harm” approach to protect young users, the service was co-designed throughout 2024 with input from adolescent girls across PNG.
The goal was to ensure the final product truly meets their real-life needs and experiences.
In addition to the hotline and app, the Oky Toky radio show on Tribe FM has become a popular source of entertaining and educational content.
Currently in its second season, the show will air its final episode for the season later this month before taking a brief break.
With the ‘1565’ hotline now live, a national awareness campaign will roll out in the coming weeks through schools, youth networks, and media, ensuring every girl knows that essential health information is now just four digits away.
This multi-platform Oky PNG initiative signals a bold and inclusive future for girls’ health education in Papua New Guinea.