Papua New Guinea has successfully carried out its first kidney transplants, with both recipients now recovering well at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) has announced. The historic surgeries were performed on 14 and 15 May 2025, in partnership with UK-based charity Transplant Links Community (TLC). They mark a milestone for PNG’s healthcare system and coincide with the country’s 50th independence anniversary. A 58-year-old woman from Enga Province, diagnosed with kidney failure in 2022, received a kidney from her 24-year-old niece. The second patient, a 56-year-old woman from Central Province, was given a kidney by her 40-year-old younger sister after being…
Author: Jordan VELA
Charlie Isari from St Charles Lwanga Secondary School in Port Moresby city didn’t expect that an essay he started just a day before the deadline would win him the 2025 National Grade 11 Essay and Poetry Competition. Representing the Southern Region, the 18-year-old is of mixed parentage of Kanuni Village in Tufi, Oro Province, and Ihu, Kavava West Kerema. Charlie is currently studying Biochemistry in Grade 11 at St Charles Lwanga. His essay, Independence: A Symbol of Unity, won first place in the essay category during the 41st anniversary celebrations of Papua New Guinea’s Parliament House on Thursday, August 7. The…
The 41st anniversary of the National Parliament House in Port Moresby this week was marked with a powerful display of student creativity during the Grade 11 National Essay and Poetry Competition, held in commemoration of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary. A total of 24 finalists, six from each region, were selected through a rigorous three-stage process that began at the school level and concluded with regional shortlists. Finalists were brought into Port Moresby on an all-expenses-paid trip to take part in a week-long national program, culminating in the final presentation on Thursday, August 7. The central theme of the…
Cricket PNG has officially named the 14-man Barramundis squad set to represent Papua New Guinea in the upcoming World Cricket League (50-over format) tour in Jersey, scheduled from August 12 to September 3, 2025. The announcement was made during a press briefing held at Amini Park this morning, with Cricket PNG Chairman Michael Harrison joined by Selection Panel Chairman Hudson Leka, Deputy Chairman Rarua Dikana, and Assistant Coach John Ovia. Veteran batter Assadollah Vala will lead the side as captain, with Sese Bau appointed vice-captain. The 14 selected players include: 1. Assadollah Vala (Captain) 2. Sese Bau (Vice Captain) 3.…
Port Moresby Nature Park’s Conservation Manager, Francis Otto Gundu, has been named “ZAA Employee of the Year” at the 2025 Association of Zoos and Aquariums Australasia (ZAA) annual meeting in Darwin, Australia. The event was made possible through the sponsorship of UK-based conservation charity, Synchronicity Earth, which supported three Papua New Guinean staff from the Nature Park to attend. Mr. Gundu, who hails from Simbu Province, presented on the park’s partnership with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), highlighting its role as host of the newly launched Centre for Species Survival: PNG. The Centre aims to support the conservation of…
A week-long Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) awareness campaign was held across 5 schools in Milne Bay province with a total of 645 girls attending in June 2025. The awareness campaign was by CPL Foundation Inc., in partnership with Queenpads and the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. The awareness campaign was led by Queenpads Founder & CEO Anne-Shirley Korave and volunteer Shivonnie Sakme, who facilitated sessions at: – Naura Primary School – Hagita Secondary School – Huhuna Primary School – Kebegiuli Primary School – Ramhaga Adventist Primary School Each school hosted interactive awareness sessions, providing vital information around menstrual hygiene, cycle…
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon arrived in Port Moresby this evening at 6:15pm, where he was officially welcomed at Jacksons International Airport’s APEC terminal by a full ceremonial parade led by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). Escorted by PNGDF Commander, Rear Admiral Philip Polewara, the Prime Minister was ushered through a formal guard of honor, marking the significance of his first official visit to Papua New Guinea since assuming office. A military band played the Papua New Guinea national anthem, setting a respectful and dignified tone for what is expected to be a key diplomatic engagement between…
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has recently launched the official 2025 season of the Santos Cup; the country’s premier national women’s rugby league competition. Now entering its second year, the Santos Cup will run across five rounds followed by two weeks of finals, culminating in the grand final on 14 September, held ahead of the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup finale. Each of the six participating franchises will play each other once before the top four progress into the final’s series. The six teams competing in this year’s tournament include: · Gas Resource Central Dabaris · East New Britain…
Police have launched an investigation into a deadly ethnic clash that resulted in the tragic death of a father and son at 8 Mile Back Road in the early hours of Saturday morning in Port Moresby city. Authorities have confirmed that the case is not linked to Friday’s violent clash at Erima. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Warrick Simatab stated that the incident appears to be a domestic retaliation, possibly involving an alcohol-related dispute, and is being treated independently from other recent tensions in the city. “We want to make it clear that this incident is not related to the Erima fight…
BSP Financial Group Limited (BSP) has renewed its long-standing support for health development in Papua New Guinea with a K100,000 donation to the Operation Open Heart (OOH) Foundation, contributing to the Foundation’s 2025 cardiac surgery program and medical training initiatives. The donation, presented at Port Moresby General Hospital, reinforces a 25-year partnership between BSP and the Foundation. Since 2002, BSP has provided over K2.5 million in financial assistance to OOH, supporting access to life-saving surgeries and specialist training for local medical professionals. Hari Rabura, BSP Group General Manager – Corporate Affairs & Community, said the partnership is grounded in a…