MEDIA RELEASE
03 April 2007
For immediate release
K35 MILLION FOR PNG-BASED MEDICAL RESEARCH
The Institute for Medical Research (IMR) will receive more than K35 million over the next five years so that it can continue to carry out vital research on three of Papua New Guinea’s biggest health concerns: mosquito-borne diseases, respiratory diseases, and sexual health infections.
Speaking at a signing ceremony between the Department of National Planning and Monitoring and the Australian Government’s aid agency, AusAID, the Director of the Institute, Professor Peter Siba, said continued financial support from the Governments of PNG and Australia proved their commitment to raising the quality of health service delivery in the country.
He said: “The correct and successful treatment of any kind of disease is only possible when doctors, health extension officers, and nurses know what they are dealing with. We take our responsibility to provide this kind of reliable and accurate information very seriously, and are therefore thankful for the support we continue to get from the PNG Government and AusAID.”
National Planning and Monitoring Secretary Valentine Kambori highlighted that one of the core priorities of the MTDS (Medium Term Development Strategy) is the health sector, and research is an important pillar to enhance effective delivery of health services to the majority of Papua New Guineans, especially those in rural areas.
He emphasised that research is important to examine the causes of the biggest health concerns in the country including malaria, respiratory diseases, and sexual health infections including HIV/AIDS. Based on such research, it will then allow for appropriate treatment regimes to effectively curb such diseases, especially through work that should be undertaken by health extension officers, aid post workers, and other health workers.
Medical research and studies carried out by the Institute in the past has seen the production of over 100 scientific publications and resulted in the collection of significant evidence-based data. This has lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of malaria, sexual health infections, and respiratory diseases in PNG.
Of the K35 million, AusAID will provide core funding support of approximately K20 million for five years from 2007-2011. The PNG Government will contribute approximately K15 million over the same period of time.
The support will also enable IMR to strengthen its links with the National Department of Health (NDoH), the National Research Institute (NRI), and the National AIDS Council Secretariat, leading to increased evidence-based decision making for the development of effective health sector programs.
Notes to Editor:
• IMR is a leading research institution based in Goroka, with active research sites in Goroka, East Sepik, and Madang.
• AusAID’s support of IMR is in line with the PNG Government’s MTDS in improving service delivery through strengthening policy development.
• Expanding knowledge base through support for research is also an objective of the new AusAID health policy, ‘Helping health systems deliver’ and the White Paper on Australian Aid. Particularly, the need for problem-solving research that links research to action, where emphasis should be given to developing practical approaches and sharing lessons learned.
• AusAID’s policy supports the PNG Government’s focus on building the capacity of local researchers.
Media Inquiries: Jacqueline Smart, AusAID Public Affairs, Ph: 325 9333 ext 216.