Global Health

CDC is partnering with NDOH and WHO to support a strategy for HIV viral load testing across PNG. It is also providing technical assistance in laboratory quality management and assurance to ensure that the viral load testing is accurate and available. CDC continues to support monitoring and evaluation of HIV viral load using data collection and reporting tools, encouraging the transition from a 2-test to a 3-test HIV rapid testing algorithm, and maintaining international accreditation standards.

Although the number of HIV testing and treatment sites has increased across PNG, one ongoing challenge in HIV/AIDS service provision is ensuring quality of services delivered. The HIVQUAL is an approach to better manage and improve HIV/AIDS care and treatment. CDC provides technical assistance to implement HIVQUAL at the clinical level, to build capacity of health care workers to improve the quality of HIV/AIDS care services for persons living with HIV, and to support the development of an overarching HIVQUAL framework.

Field Epidemiology Training (FET)

The FET-PNG program was launched in 2013 in response to the need to develop human resource capacity for field epidemiology (surveillance and response to public health issues) in PNG. The annual program is a unique six-month model focused on intensive mentoring and intervention projects. It has trained 45 field epidemiologists working in the NDOH, provinces, and districts, providing leadership in HIV and other disease surveillance, program monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and disease control activities. FET fellows’ interventions have saved an estimated 200 lives. Nearly 50% of the research projects and interventions of the fellows are associated with HIV, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections disease surveillance and control in their provinces and nationally. By 2018, the FET-PNG program is planned to be fully funded and facilitated by NDOH.

HIV Quality Improvement (HIVQUAL)

HIVQUAL was first introduced in 2008, and four Centers of Excellence were established in PNG. To date a total of 18 antiretroviral therapy clinics are implementing HIVQUAL. In PNG’s national central district, HIVQUAL activities have scaled up with a focus on reducing loss to follow up for treatment using HIVQUAL indicators. The HIVQUAL training program is now funded and led by NDOH, and the HIVQUAL framework is viewed as a tool for quality improvement in caring for HIV/AIDS patients.

• Improved Strategic Information Systems
• Enhanced Laboratory Systems
• Sustainable HIV Care and Quality Improvement

Travel:

• U.S. Department of State International Travel Information: Papua New Guinea
• Health Information for Travelers to Papua New Guinea

General:

• US Embassy to Papua New Guinea
• CIA World Factbook: Papua New Guinea

Diseases:

Infectious Diseases

• Vibrio cholerae O1 in 2 Coastal Villages, Papua New Guinea
• Novel Hantavirus Sequences in Shrew, Guinea
• Risk for Japanese encephalitis in Papua New Guinea
• International Influenza: WHO Western Pacific Region (WPR)

Yellow Fever and Malaria Information

• Yellow Fever and Malaria Information: Papua New Guinea
• CDC Activities in the Amazon Region
• Malaria Information and Prophylaxis: Papua New Guinea

HIV/AIDS:

• CDC’s HIV/AIDS Activities in Papua New Guinea
• CDC’s Global Health Programs: Global HIV/AIDS
• President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)