Arawa Hospital opened in Bougainville

Australian High Commission

The people of Bougainville now have access to improved health services with the official opening of the upgraded Arawa Hospital.

Senior medical officer Dr Joe Velosi and nurse Felicity Osioco attending to a patient at the upgraded Arawa Hospital.

From 2015 to 2018, the Australian Government provided K33.8 million for the upgrade of the then Arawa Health Centre to a district hospital.

Bird's eye view of the upgraded Arawa Hospital.

 Under the partnership arrangement, the Autonomous Bougainville Government purchased equipment for the hospital at a value of PGK4 million.

Senior medical officer Dr Joe Velosi with new equipment at the upgraded Arawa Hospital.

The hospital was opened on today by Prime Minister of Peter O’Neill, President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville John Momis, and Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Bruce Davis.

Community health worker Jean Kevan holds two-month old Cornellius in the Maternal and Child Health waiting room.

“Australia is proud to deliver these new and expanded health facilities in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government,” said Davis.

“It is great to see the upgraded Arawa Hospital already supporting the delivery of improved services to the people of Bougainville, from babies being delivered safely to life-saving surgeries being performed.”

New parents, Graham Joke and Lizdelmar Pa’ai visit the upgraded Arawa Hospital’s Maternal and Child Health ward to have their one month old baby, Benjamin, vaccinated

The hospital upgrade includes a range of improved facilities, including a labour ward, surgical facilities, general medical wing and multipurpose wing with 24 new ward beds, nurse stations, pharmacy dispensary and biomedical laboratory.

A key part of the project was the provision of an on-site Family Support Centre for survivors of family and sexual violence to access specialised health care. 

The centre includes counselling and consultation rooms, safe rooms, transit accommodation, and disability access.

Since the hospital opened to the public in early 2017, the delivery of health services to Bougainville people has doubled its daily operational attendance, admissions, antenatal care and deliveries. 

Women from remote communities around Arawa who previously have not had access to maternal care have been able to come to the facility to deliver their babies safely.

The project generated around 500,000 hours of construction-related employment to the local economy and strengthened local trade skills.

 It was delivered through the Papua New Guinea – Australia Partnership with the Autonomous Bougainville Government’s Department of Health.