WHO regional director visits WHP to support polio response
The Regional Director of the World Health Organization [WHO] for the Western Pacific Region, Dr Saia Mau Piukala, visited Western Highlands Province this week.
His visit is to reinforce commitment to the polio outbreak response and spotlight the importance of integrated, community-driven health services.
Dr Piukala’s visit began with a high-level meeting at the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority [WHPHA]. There, he met with WHPHA Acting Chief Executive Officer Jane Holden, National Department of Health (NDoH) managers Dr Lutty Amos and Barry Ropa, as well as development partners, including Mirriam Carter from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Their discussions were focused on strengthening coordination, sustaining immunization coverage, and ensuring Frontline health workers receive the support they need.
" I am here in Western Highlands to listen, to learn, and to reaffirm WHO'S commitment to supporting communities across the country."
" Ending polio in PNG requires strong leadership, community trust, and unified action," said Dr Piukala- WHO's Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region.
Dr Piukala's visit comes at a critical time as PNG rolls out the nationwide polio vaccination campaign following the outbreak declared in May of this year, where WHP responded swiftly in becoming one of the first to launch the campaign with n0PV2 coverage currently at 78.6%.
After the high level meeting, the WHO Regional Director visited Togoba Health Center-a church run level three facility where he witnessed children receiving the polio vaccine- an important moment that underscored the frontline efforts to stop the outbreak and protect every eligible child under the age of 10.
Apart from his main visit to support polio response in WHP, Dr Piukala visited the Non-Communicable Disease [NCD] Clinic as well as the cancer screening clinic in Mt Hagen, where he observed efforts to promote early detection of NCD and WHP leading to cervical cancer prevention.
He also visited the HPV vaccination mobile clinic which targets adolescent girls aged between 9-14 and also spent time at the Wellness Clinic which plays a key role in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, reducing hospital burden through early intervention.
Dr Piukala's visit formed part of a broader mission to PNG aimed at raising visibility of the polio outbreak, showcasing field impact, and promoting a unified, well-resourced response.