AGP Executive Report

Health & Safety: Ok Tedi Mining says it will send an independent medical team to assess health concerns raised on social media about skin conditions affecting women along the Fly River, working with Daru Hospital and the Western Provincial Health Authority and sending samples to external labs. Public Health Leadership: Prime Minister James Marape honoured medical pioneer Sir Isi Kevau at a public service farewell, praising his decades of service at Port Moresby General Hospital and long teaching career at UPNG’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Care Access & Emergency Response: A PNG-linked intensive care and medical evacuation story highlights how air medical teams keep critically ill patients stable until they reach better-equipped hospitals. Youth & Wellness: City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) Foundation expanded its Rise Empowerment Programme for girls in grades 11–12, funding mentoring focused on leadership, wellness, dignity, education pathways and career readiness. Community Health Recognition: Westpac PNG’s 2026 Outstanding Women Awards recognised seven women, with overall winner Stella Ipang credited for advancing gender equality and improving immunisation access for women, children and marginalised communities. Regional Health Cooperation: Indonesia and PNG agreed to hold a Joint Ministerial Commission meeting in September 2026, including continued cooperation on renovating PNG hospitals. Governance & Services: PNG’s suspension of more than 70 senior public service leaders is raising concerns about legal process and potential disruption to service delivery, including health institutions. Disaster & Mortality: Police say six expatriates died after a boat capsized off Lihir Island while returning from a picnic; survivors were treated at Lihir Medical Centre as investigations continue. Global Health Context: FAO unveiled a blueprint to tackle transboundary animal diseases, warning that outbreaks can spill into human health and threaten livelihoods. Air Travel & Medical Logistics: Misima Minerals signed an agreement to operate the Misima Aerodrome, aiming to restore commercial flights that can support healthcare delivery and community mobility. Health-Adjacent Policy: NCDC urged strict building compliance in Port Moresby to support orderly urban growth—an indirect but important factor for safer living conditions.

Pacific Health Funding: A new Lowy Institute report says Australia remains the biggest development donor to the Pacific, but China is shifting to smaller, highly visible projects like school upgrades and medical clinics—while overall aid is expected to dip in 2025. PNG Medical Leadership: PM James Marape honours Sir Isi Kevau at a public service farewell, praising decades of service at Port Moresby General Hospital and long teaching years at UPNG’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Community Health & Inclusion: Westpac PNG recognises seven women at the 2026 Outstanding Women Awards, with overall winner Stella Ipang credited for advancing gender equality and disability inclusion in PNG’s immunisation sector. Health Access via Connectivity: Misima Minerals signs an agreement to operate and upgrade the Misima Aerodrome, aiming to restore commercial flights that can improve access for healthcare and community mobility. Disaster Response & Care: After a boat capsized off Lihir Island, police say six people died and survivors are being treated at Lihir Medical Centre, with investigations continuing. Forensic Support: A coronial investigation team is flown into East New Britain to identify victims from the ENB boating incident, with bodies identified and families assisting. Medical Training & Wellness: City Pharmacy Limited’s CPL Foundation expands mentoring for girls in grades 11–12 through the Rise Empowerment Programme, including wellness and education pathways.

Boat Tragedy Response: Six expatriates died after a boat capsized off Lihir Island, with six survivors taken to Lihir Medical Centre; police say engine trouble and rough seas likely contributed, and bodies were moved to the morgue as investigations continue. Coronial Investigation: East New Britain forensic and Disaster Victim Identification teams were flown in to support coronial work and victim identification after the ENB/PNG boating mishap, with 13 bodies identified and more details expected soon. Health Leadership: PM James Marape honoured medical pioneer Sir Isi Kevau at a public service farewell, praising nearly five decades of service at Port Moresby General Hospital and decades of training at UPNG’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Workplace Wellness: Westpac PNG held a nationwide staff and family sporting day focused on wellbeing and connection, with community partners joining activities. Immunisation Access: Westpac’s Outstanding Women Awards highlighted Stella Ipang’s work improving inclusive immunisation access for women, children and marginalised communities. Digital Health Tools: Students won PNG Digital ID Hackathon prizes, including SevisBirth—an offline birth registration tool designed for use in health facilities. Regional Health Cooperation: Indonesia and PNG agreed to meet in September 2026 to review cooperation, including Indonesia’s hospital renovation support in PNG.

Public Service Accountability: Papua New Guinea has suspended more than 70 senior public service leaders over missed reporting deadlines, raising fears that “paperwork-only” reform could disrupt hospitals, universities and other essential services while deeper issues like corruption and weak systems remain. Healthcare Access & Recognition: Westpac PNG’s 2026 Outstanding Women Awards honoured seven women, including Stella Ipang, recognised for improving immunisation access and more inclusive healthcare for women, children and marginalised communities. Aviation for Health & Mobility: Misima Minerals has signed an agreement to operate the Misima Aerodrome, with upgrades planned to restore commercial flights before end-2026—expected to improve access for healthcare and community services. Disaster Response: Coronial investigations are underway after a boating mishap off East New Britain that left 27 missing; forensic teams have been flown in to identify victims, with 13 bodies identified so far. Regional Health Cooperation: Indonesia and PNG plan ministerial talks in September 2026, including continued cooperation on renovating PNG hospitals. Digital Health Tools: Students from Western Pacific University won top honours in PNG’s Digital ID Hackathon, including a health-focused offline birth registration tool for use in facilities.

NRL & Youth Health: The PNG Chiefs’ 2028 NRL entry is tied to a long-term push to improve social outcomes, with league officials saying most of the $600m, 10-year funding is aimed at keeping kids in school and building positive behaviours, not just the club’s setup. Sports & Community Pride: Chiefs roster talk continues ahead of the November 1 free agency deadline, while CPL support expands to grades 11 and 12. Women’s Health & Inclusion: Westpac Outstanding Women Awards in Port Moresby recognised seven leaders, including work linked to more inclusive immunisation and healthcare for women and children. Digital Health Access: Western Pacific University students won top honours in PNG’s National Digital ID Hackathon, including a tool for offline birth registration in health facilities. Disaster Response: Search and recovery continues after 27 people went missing when two boats capsized off East New Britain, with recovered bodies and community vigils reported. Regional Security & Med Evac: PNG and New Zealand signed a defence cooperation plan covering maritime patrols, disaster response, search and rescue, and training—supporting safer operations across the region.

Commonwealth Games medal for PNG: Morea Baru won bronze in the men’s 65kg weightlifting at Glasgow 2026, lifting 282kg as Raja Muthupandi took silver and Malaysia’s Aznil Bidin Muhamad won gold. Maritime tragedy recovery: Search and recovery continues after two boats capsized off East New Britain, with reports saying 8 bodies have been recovered and 19 people remain missing; the boats were carrying health authority staff and families. Health access via aviation: Misima Minerals has signed an MoA to operate the Misima aerodrome, aiming to restart commercial flights and improve mobility for health and other services. Eye health push: The Laila Foundation is nearing completion of a free eye screening program at Gerehu Secondary School in Port Moresby, with custom glasses provided for students with refractive errors. Digital ID for health settings: Western Pacific University students won top honours in PNG’s Digital ID Hackathon, including an offline birth registration tool designed for use in health facilities. Public service crackdown: PNG PM Marape suspended 70-plus public service chiefs for missing mandatory reporting deadlines, including across hospitals and universities.

Public Health & Access: Laila Foundation is nearing completion of its Free Eye Screening Program at Gerehu Secondary School in Port Moresby, with vision checks for all 3,000 students expected by next week after screening Grades 9–10 and moving to Grades 11–12; free custom glasses are being issued to students with refractive errors to help them learn better. Emergency Response & Transport: East New Britain officials thanked Captain Jurgen Ruh after he helped transport three recovered bodies, with later finds to be prepared at Kavieng Hospital morgue before coffins are flown back—highlighting the role of coordinated transport in disaster recovery. Health System Support in Remote Areas: Samaritan Aviation continues its life-saving mission in remote PNG, flying critically ill patients and delivering medical supplies where communities can be days away from the nearest hospital. Digital Health & Identity: Western Pacific University students won top honours in PNG’s National Digital ID Hackathon, including an offline birth registration tool designed for use in health facilities. Health & Safety in the News: A major boat capsizing off East New Britain left 27 people missing, with recovery efforts continuing as bodies wash ashore.

Maritime tragedy recovery: Search and recovery continues after two boats capsized off East New Britain, with reports saying more bodies have been recovered and families remain missing after the disaster while travelling from Pangpang Beach Resort to Kokopo. Emergency transport support: East New Britain Governor Marum thanked Captain Jurgen Ruh for helping move three recovered bodies, noting later remains would be prepared at Kavieng Hospital morgue before coffins are flown back. Health access via air links: Misima Minerals has agreed to operate the Misima aerodrome, aiming to restore safer, more regular flights that can improve mobility and support health services for Misima and nearby communities. Vision care for students: The Laila Foundation is close to finishing a free eye screening program at Gerehu Secondary School in Port Moresby, with custom glasses provided to students with refractive errors to help learning. Digital ID for health-linked services: Western Pacific University students won top honours in PNG’s National Digital ID Hackathon, including an offline birth registration tool designed for use in health facilities. Connectivity needs power, not just internet: A Pacific-focused report highlights that reliable electricity is the main barrier to bringing services like Starlink to remote schools and health facilities, with solar-powered setups helping keep connections running.

Digital ID & health access: Western Pacific University students swept PNG’s National Digital ID Hackathon, winning for WokKonek (job matching using SevisPass/SevisPay) and Technical Excellence for SevisBirth, an offline birth registration tool for health facilities—aimed at making services easier for people without reliable online access. Eye health: The Laila Foundation is on track to finish its free eye screening for 3,000 Gerehu Secondary School students in Port Moresby, with custom glasses already provided to students with undiagnosed vision problems. Emergency response & safety: A coordinated airlift helped rescue a severely injured sorcery-accusation violence survivor from Chimbu to hospital for burns treatment, with police and aviation support. Maritime tragedy: Search and recovery continues after two boats capsized off East New Britain, with eight bodies recovered and 19 still missing; the incident involved staff and families from the East New Britain health authority. Remote healthcare logistics: Samaritan Aviation highlighted its mission at AirVenture—flying medical supplies and critically ill patients from remote PNG communities to hospitals. Public health workforce support: DWU medical alumni completed ultrasonography skills workshops, building local capacity for better clinical care. Connectivity bottleneck: Pacific connectivity efforts are being held back most by reliable electricity, not internet—solar-powered setups are helping schools and health sites keep services running.

Maritime tragedy recovery: Papua New Guinea’s East New Britain boat disaster has entered a recovery phase after two capsized journeys left 27 people missing, including health authority staff and families; reports say eight bodies have been recovered so far, with search efforts hampered by rough seas and bad weather, and officials continue aerial and sea sweeps. Emergency response & transport: East New Britain Governor Michael Marum thanked Captain Jurgen Ruh and partner agencies for helping move three recovered bodies, with later remains to be prepared at Kavieng Hospital morgue before coffins are returned. Health access in remote PNG: Samaritan Aviation highlighted its lifesaving mission at AirVenture, flying medical supplies and critically ill patients from remote islands to the nearest hospital—turning days of travel into hours. Vision care for students: The Laila Foundation is on track to finish a free eye screening program at Gerehu Secondary School in Port Moresby, aiming to test all 3,000 students and provide custom glasses for refractive errors. Digital ID for health-linked services: Western Pacific University students won top honours in a National Digital ID Hackathon, including SevisBirth, an offline birth registration tool designed for use in health facilities. Public sector compliance: PM Marape announced a nationwide suspension of 70-plus public service chiefs for missing mandatory reporting deadlines, including across hospitals and universities. Connectivity challenge: Pacific coverage notes that reliable electricity—not just internet access—is the main barrier to powering Starlink for schools and health facilities, with solar solutions already helping communities in PNG.

Maritime Tragedy: Search and rescue in East New Britain continues after two boats capsized near Pigeon Island, with 27 people reported missing (including 11 children) and eight bodies recovered so far; rough seas and bad weather have hampered efforts, while police and aviation crews keep scanning the area. Emergency Response & Care Access: MVIL is moving to speed up road-accident insurance claims by partnering with health authorities, starting with NCDPHA and planning similar agreements nationwide—aiming for faster, verified medical reports for victims. Health Workers Under Pressure: A coordinated aerial police response helped airlift a severely injured man from Chimbu after alleged sorcery-accusation violence, highlighting ongoing community education and grief support needs to reduce SARV harm. Eye Health for Students: The Laila Foundation is on track to finish free eye screening at Gerehu Secondary School in Port Moresby, testing all 3,000 students and providing custom glasses for refractive errors. Connectivity Reality Check: Remote communities are still held back more by reliable electricity than internet access; pilots using Starlink plus solar power are improving emergency healthcare in PNG villages. Transport for Services: Misima aerodrome operations are set to restart as Misima Minerals becomes the operator, with upgrades targeting commercial flights before end of 2026 to support mobility and health services.

Emergency Response & Health Services: East New Britain authorities and the RPNGC are still searching for 27 people missing after boats capsized near Pigeon Island, including four East New Britain Provincial Health Authority staff and 11 children, with police interviews of two survivors and aerial sweeps underway. Road Accident Care & Insurance: MVIL says it will expand partnerships with Provincial Health Authorities after signing its first MoU with NCDPHA to speed up verified medical reports and improve road-accident claim processing nationwide. Eye Health: The Laila Foundation is close to finishing a free eye screening program at Gerehu Secondary School in NCD, aiming to test all 3,000 students and provide prescription glasses for refractive errors. Digital Access for Health & Inclusion: ICT Minister Robert Naguri says PNG’s digital transformation must reach everyone, including rural communities and people with disability, as DTS 2026 pushes for trusted infrastructure and inclusion. Local Health Logistics: East New Britain Governor Marum thanked Captain Jurgen Ruh for transporting three recovered bodies, with later finds to be prepared at Kavieng Hospital morgue before return. Wellness Promotion: BSP Life’s “Movement is Medicine” Facebook challenge named five K1,000 winners for promoting healthy, active lifestyles.

Eye Health in NCD: The Laila Foundation says it will finish its free eye screening for all 3,000 Gerehu Secondary School students next week, after already screening Grades 9 and 10 and providing custom glasses for students with vision problems. Emergency Care & Training: Divine Word University medical alumni have completed basic ultrasonography skills workshops to strengthen diagnostic care across PNG, using hands-on scanning and simulation training. Road Accident Claims: MVIL plans to expand partnerships with Provincial Health Authorities nationwide after its first MoU with NCDPHA to speed up and verify medical reports for insurance claims. Sorcery-Related Violence Response: In Chimbu, an elderly survivor of sanguma-related violence was airlifted to hospital for the first coordinated aerial police response in a Sarv case. Community Health Access: A Central province sub-health centre is urging patients to bring drinking water after its water tanks ran dry for months, highlighting ongoing service strain. Wellness Push: BSP Life’s “Movement is Medicine” challenge has named five winners for promoting healthy lifestyles online. Digital Inclusion: PNG’s ICT leaders say digital transformation must reach everyone, including rural communities and people with disabilities, with trust and secure services as priorities. Health System Data Reform: The National Research Institute is calling for a single national database and better district coordination so agencies stop duplicating data collection and people don’t miss out on services like health. Maritime Disaster Search: Police and aviation crews continue searching for 27 people missing after boats capsized off East New Britain, including health authority staff and their families.

Vision & learning support: The Laila Foundation is set to finish its free eye screening for all 3,000 students at Gerehu Secondary School in NCD, after already screening Grades 9 and 10 and providing prescription glasses to students with vision problems. Digital inclusion in health and services: PNG’s ICT Minister Robert Naguri says digital transformation must reach everyone—rural communities, women, youth, people with disabilities and small businesses—backed by trust, stronger infrastructure and secure digital government. Health financing & road safety: Motor Vehicles Insurance Limited (MVIL) plans to expand partnerships with Provincial Health Authorities after signing an MoU with NCDPHA to speed up verified medical reports and improve insurance claims for road accident victims. Emergency response reforms: Former emergency medicine leader Dr Sam Yockopua backs PNG’s push for a National Ambulance Service and National Emergency Management Authority, calling it long-overdue for a modern government-led response. Training for frontline diagnostics: Divine Word University medical alumni completed ultrasonography workshops to build practical scanning skills for better patient care across PNG. Search & safety at sea: Authorities continue searching for 27 people missing after boats capsized near East New Britain, including East New Britain Provincial Health Authority staff and families, with police and aviation sweeps ongoing. Power reliability risk: PNG Power faces unpaid electricity bills from government agencies nearing K200 million, threatening the utility’s ability to maintain and upgrade services. Community peace after sorcery violence: A Morobe reconciliation ceremony marks a new chapter after years of sorcery accusation-related conflict, with congregations surrendering weapons and renouncing violence. Digital economy push: DTS 2026 in Port Moresby highlights AI-driven growth and regional partnerships to expand PNG’s digital public ecosystem.

Emergency Response & Health Access: MVIL says it will expand partnerships with Provincial Health Authorities nationwide after its first MoU with NCDPHA, aiming to verify medical reports and speed up road-accident insurance claims. Digital Health & Inclusion: PNG’s Digital Transformation Summit 2026 pushed a “no one left behind” message, with ICT Minister Robert Naguri stressing equal access to digital services for rural communities, women, youth, people with disabilities and small businesses. Training for Better Care: Divine Word University medical alumni completed Basic Ultrasonographic Skills Workshops in Madang, building practical ultrasound capability to support faster diagnosis across PNG. Ambulance & Emergency Reform: Dr Sam Yockopua backs PNG’s National Ambulance Service and National Emergency Management Authority reforms as long-overdue, while PM Marape says St John Ambulance will be strengthened through legislation as a national emergency service. Violence Prevention: A Catholic priest says community-led grief handling could help de-escalate sorcery-related violence, after an elderly woman was rescued from a mob in Enga. Road Safety/Wellness Campaign: BSP Life announced five winners from its “Movement is Medicine” challenge promoting physical activity and mental wellbeing. Disaster Watch: Search efforts continue for 27 people missing after boats capsized near East New Britain, including ENB Provincial Health Authority staff and children.

Maritime Emergency: Up to 27 people, including 11 children, are feared missing after two boats capsized off Papua New Guinea’s Islands region while travelling from Pangpang Island to Kokopo; searches are ongoing with police, helicopter support and local sea vessels, and authorities say bad weather is hampering efforts. Remote Health Access: Samaritan Aviation is using Cessna seaplanes to run rescue flights across remote PNG, with about 40% of flights linked to women in labour. Digital Inclusion: ICT Minister Robert Naguri says PNG’s digital transformation must reach everyone equally—rural communities, women, youth, people with disabilities and small businesses—backed by trust, stronger infrastructure and secure digital services. Power & Health System Strain: PNG Power is facing a major cash crunch after government departments, hospitals and other agencies reportedly owe nearly K200 million in unpaid electricity bills, threatening service and infrastructure upgrades. Emergency Care Reform: Health and emergency reforms are gaining momentum, with calls to strengthen a national ambulance service and emergency management arrangements. Training for Better Care: Divine Word University medical alumni completed ultrasonography workshops to improve diagnostic skills across PNG. Child & Youth Oversight: Parliament has established a permanent Special Parliamentary Committee on Child and Youth Wellbeing to better oversee policies and budgets affecting young people.