Japanese WWII veteran working to bring fallen soldiers back to their homeland

18 May 2018

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has paid tribute to Japanese World War II veteran, Masai Horie, who works to recover the remains of Japanese soldiers and bring them back to Japan.

Prime Minister O’Neill, Horie and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Horie, who was prisoner-of-war in Rabaul in 1945, is 103 years old, has traveled to Papua New Guinea 18 times and is a former member of parliament in Japan.
“It was an honour to meet Mr Horie tonight,” O’Neill said.
“His tireless efforts to bring his countrymen home is outstanding and has earned him the highest respect in both of our countries.
"Papua New Guinea is the final resting place of so many courageous men and women from both sides of the war.
“Our nation will always accord the highest respect to those still buried in our soil.
“We will continue to work closely with Japan in their efforts to repatriate the remains of the fallen, and return them to their homeland."

PM O’Neill arrives in Japan for PALM8

18 May 2018

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, has arrived in Japan for the 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (SOM8).

Prime Minister O’Neill with Prime Minister Abe and Ms Akie Abe

Held every three years in Japan, the PALM brings Pacific Island Nations together in discussion with Japan to develop initiatives for regional growth and co-operation.
Being held in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, from May 18-19, the Leaders’ Meeting has the theme “We are Islanders – Partnership towards Prosperous, Free and Open Pacific".
O’Neill welcomed the talks that he said will provide an opportunity for the region to engage with Japan on issues of mutual interest.
“Japan is very much involved in projects that strengthen economic advancement and enhance community development around the Pacific,” he said.
“Papua New Guinea is working with Japan on a number of initiatives that are strengthening infrastructure in our country, particularly as we prepare to host the APEC Summit in November.
"This includes the Port Moresby Sewage System Upgrade Project, the Reconstruction of bridges in East New Britain and capacity building support through the Volunteers Program.
“I look forward to the meetings over the coming days and discussion with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as we work together in the interests of improving regional infrastructure."
The PALM Leaders‘ Summit will be co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Japan, and the Prime Minister of Samoa,  as the current Chair of the Pacific Island Forum.

Phillipines President Duterte welcomes stronger ties with PNG

Address by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte at the State Dinner in Manila, 16 May 2018:

Today in our meetings, I have seen the true spirit of friendship and cooperation, having agreed to work together on matters of mutual interest, particularly in increasing an environment of trade and investment, and further strengthening the very important agricultural and fisheries sectors.

Tonight we have strengthened the foundations of mutual respect, not only at the official level, but more at a personal level.
The 35,000 Filipinos living and working in PNG and the hundreds of PNG citizens studying in the Philippines are living truth of friendship that we aim to strengthen in the the years to come.
The Philippines have further deepened our engagements in PNG as we support PM O'Neill's Chairmanship of this year's APEC Leaders Summit.
I am truly honoured for this evening's occassion, as this is your first official visit to the Philippines.
Today will reaffirm this relationship as we celebrate this opportunity to build on from strength to strength.
Today marks a new chapter where we chart a new destiny as sovereign states.

PM O'Neill thanks Philippines for ongoing relationship

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has thanked the President of the Philippines for the ongoing strengthening of relations between the two countries, that is delivering benefits in education, agriculture and healthcare.
He has completed an Official State Visit to the Philippines where he met with Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, senior government officials and business leaders.

O’Neill said the major outcome to come from the visit is the reassertion of how close the Philippines is to Papua New Guinea, both in geography and in cultural characteristics.
“Our two countries have many similarities, in our governance and legal processes, in our approach to business and in our Christian values," he said.

“The Philippines is a very community orientated country with respect for family and tradition.
“The islands of the Philippines also share very strong similarities with all island nations around the Pacific.
“Now as we increase our co-operation in areas such as agriculture and education, the bonds between our people will continue to grow.

“Papua New Guinea has a very close friend in the Philippines.
“We have had diplomatic relations for 43 years, but we have been friends for hundreds of years since Filipinos came with the missionaries.”

O'Neill has also passed on the concern expressed by President Duterte following the Highlands Earthquake.
“President Duterte extended his condolences the people of the Highlands Region and expressed sorrow for the loss of life in recent tragic earthquake," he said.

Commercial rice production to begin in co-operation with the Philippines

Price of rice to drop when PNG produces rice locally

Ensuring food security for Papua New Guinea into the future has been given a boost through an arrangement that will see hundreds of thousands of hectares of rice planted, and deliver a reduction in the price of rice in the country.
Speaking at the end of an official State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines last week, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, said that a memorandum of understanding on agricultural co-operation has been signed that will lead to extensive rice cultivation.

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill speaking at the end of an official State Visit to the Republic of the Philippines

O’Neill said understanding has been reached with Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, and his government, to co-operate in the production of rice for the benefit of both countries.
“Food security is essential for the future survival of all countries in the world, because if we cannot find enough food for a fast increasing population everyone will suffer,” he said.
“Papua New Guinea and the Philippines have agreed to work together to enhance the food security for both countries.
“The Philippines will provide technical advice, private sector investment and people to guide our farmers to establish many thousands of hectares of rice production in Papua New Guinea.
“Rice grown at these farms will be sold in the domestic market in Papua New Guinea, and in the long term, rice not required for domestic consumption will be sold to the Philippines at market rates.
“This is an innovative approach to confront the looming problem of food security by drawing on the strengths of each country.
“Papua New Guinea has hundreds of thousands of hectares of fertile land that is suitable for rice production, and the Philippines has the technical knowledge and the investment capital.
“Our soil for rice cultivation has never been commercially farmed, and is rich in nutrient delivering almost twice the yield per hectare of most rice-producing areas in South-East Asia.
“This will be a public private partnership, with the Philippines Government providing technical expertise and facilitating private sector investment.
“The Papua New Guinea Government will provide regulatory support, strengthen relevant infrastructure in farming areas and encourage domestic investment.
“Rice production trials are already underway and the first commercial planting is expected to begin next year.”
O'Neill said the wide-scale production of rice in Papua New Guinea will also see the price of rice fall, as was the case when Papua New Guinea began producing its own fresh milk.
“When our own Papua New Guinea milk hit supermarket shelves this year, it sold at half the price of foreign milk, so the foreigners then also halved their price.
“They had been selling foreign milk at such a high mark-up, and that stopped when locally made milk entered the market.
“Papua New Guinea is standing up for itself against price gouging and market exploitation.
“We will continue to deliver the best results for our communities, we will enhance food security and get fair prices for our people.”
The memorandum of understanding, signed by the agriculture ministers of both countries, forms the basis from which both Governments and relevant stakeholders can advance project arrangements and then sign a memorandum of agreement.

Ministers of agriculture from PNG and Philippines sign the agreement.

O'Neill said the memorandum of agreement will be finalised between before the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby in November this year.

A tribute to Moses Tau

By REUBEN AOPI

Papua New Guinea’s singing sensation Moses Tau was born on May 16, 1969, the very same day he died.

The late Moses Tau

Moses Gou was then adopted by his elder sister, hence,  the change of his surname to Tau (as reported by his biological sister, Alice Gou, during an interview with PNG TV, shortly after he had passed, May 16, 2018 on his birthday) when he turned 49.
Little did she know that a star was being placed in her arms to love and to be raised. God Bless the people of Barakau for that and for many other great things.
Moses Tau was what Papua New Guineans came to know.
 He later adopted   a very catchy and extravagant stage name, Moshanty.
 I grew up in a tiny island called Daru.
We had a tape recorder which belonged to my elder brother, Wesley.
 Moses and the Reflections was the name of the cassette we had along with a CD from his album Moses Says Aloha.
They played endlessly.
The style of music he had was superb and contagious.
The type that would leave you tapping your foot and the next thing you know, you’re swaying your hips.
 I’m typing this with no regrets as I have my headphones blasting with "Penekovu Medu bona Hurehure’’, which means rain and waves in the Motu language.
 A song sung about a canoe.
One of my personal favourites.
He was a vibrant soul, one who literally lit up the room whenever he entered.
Moses was full of joy and always eager to help out, no matter what the problem was.I
 will always be grateful for that.
In 2016, we had our Christmas Party here in Digicel’s HQ.
 I was told to phone Moshanty and have him join us as per my boss' request.
I was starstuck and lost for words when he picked up on the other side of the line.
An absolute privilege it was.
Fans gathered and took to social media to remember and commemorate his life.
Let's bid him farewell as we mourn the loss of a lively, dignified soul.
 A soul that brought joy and fulfilment to many, and whose legacy will live on forever.
You would feel the heat and love in the air every time he took the stage.
 He knew what his audience wanted and delivered it with passion and humour.
A bloody entertainer he was and will forever be remembered for that.
Moshanty was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty.
 He actively participated and performed at various medical fundraisers, weddings and family gathering without fail.
He was also an advocate for the LGBT Community in Papua New Guinea.
 LGBT persons in Papua New Guinea face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.
Attitudes towards LGBT people are greatly influenced by churches and the Melanesian way of life as the majority of Papua New Guineans claim to be believers of the Christian faith.
Despite all that, he lived his life to the very fullest,  if I may put it that way and to which many would agree with me.
He was never afraid of what came his way. Talk about the struggles one has to endure every day.
A legend, period.
All over Papua New Guinea he was a symbol of selfless humanity.
All over the Pacific, a standard-bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a local talent who transcended nationality. Someone with natural nobility who was classless.
He proved in the years he walked on this earth that he needed no royal title to continue to generate his particular brand of magic.
Papua New Guinea has lost a legend.
1969-2018
May your soul rest in peace,  Moses Tau AKA Moshanty.
Bamahuta, Emau, Iawo.

About the author

Reuben Aopi

Reuben Aopi was born in Daru Island on Oct 8,  1988.
His father Pala Aopi was a painter, and his mother Sibaio was a retired nurse.
Both have gone to be with our Lord.

Port Moresby General Hospital runs out of drugs

By Dr GLEN MOLA

Dr Glen Mola

Not always good news! 
Today we heard at our PMGH (Port Moresby General Hospital) staff meeting that we have run out of antiretroviral (ART or HIV drugs) medicines. 
We have many thousands of HIV positive people on treatment in NCD (and several more thousand around the rest of the country) and they may not have any medicine to take unless new supplies arrive in the very near future. 
People on ART must take their medicine every single day: they they stop and start again they are very likely to breed resistant HIV. 
This is not only bad (in fact life-threatening) for the patient, but life-threatening for everybody else in the community who might catch the HIV from them. 
We also don't have any syphilis test kits in the country.
Syphilis used to be the commonest cause of stillbirth (babies dying inside their mothers) in our audit stats.- and after we started routine testing of all mothers coming to AN clinics (and treating the positives) we virtually eliminated this scourge from our pregnant mums.
 But now with no test kits available, the syphilis problem will come back again and many babies will die.
And this week we ran out of Oxytocin, the drug that prevents women from losing too much blood when they deliver their babies.  The commonest cause of death when oxytocin is not available is post partum hemorrhage (or excessive bleeding after the birth); so we are probably now going to see a lot more mothers dies even when they come to hospital to have a supervised birth.
And we are very short of surgical sutures - the special thread and needle that surgeons use to sew up their patients during and after operations. 
Every day we don't have some essential item that is critical to save medical practice.
And the PNG government does not even pay for any of the family planning commodities - pills, depo, implants etc. - they are all donated to us by UNFPA and other overseas donor agencies.
 Eventually this will stop, because PNG has recently been upgraded to a "middle income country" because of our oil and gas extractive industries. 
And if the Government does not step up and buy the FP commodities that we need to assist people to plan their families.....??
Most doctors and nurses still try to keep positive about their work, but in the face of a government that does not support the health system - it is becoming more and more difficult.
And then we wee that there are millions of kina available for high profile stuff like various intensive care facilities at PMGH (coronary care, trauma, cardiac catheterization, renal dialysis etc.that will surely only benefit a minority of less than 1% of patients): but how come there is no money for the majority (99 per cent) of patients, - the sick kids, the women delivering their babies, the people every night needing emergency surgery, the HIV and TB patients, families needing contraceptive to plan their families etc?  "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind......" - Bob Dylan. 
Can we all start putting pressure on the government please to FUND THE HEALTH SERVICE PROPERLY - and not just through Borneo Pacific.

ExxonMobil PNG re-deploys PNG Salvation Army medical team to disaster-affected areas

As part of its on-going support to the earthquake affected communities, ExxonMobil PNG, operator of the PNG LNG project has re-deployed the PNG Salvation Army medical team to provide much-needed medical assistance as the company works towards supporting with repair and maintenance work on health care facilities.

A needs assessment conducted by the PNG Salvation Army and also ExxonMobil PNG has identified that many of the health care facilities in the project impact areas were displaced with limited or no medical supplies to assist the communities.

PNG Salvation Army health workers undergoing their code of conduct pre-deployment briefing by Gender and Protection Specialist from UN Women PNG office, Anggie Burchhil before their deployment to the Western Province on Monday to assist the earthquake affected communities.

ExxonMobil PNG community development support manager Debbie Maraki with PNG Salvation Army health workers and the territorial director of health services for PNG Salvation Army, Captain Christine Gee and gender and Protection Specialist from UN Women PNG office, Anggie Burchhil after their pre-deployment briefing.

The assessment also stated that structures of health care facilities were still intact but required minor repair and maintenance to ensure they were safe to be used while others needed re-stocking of pharmaceutical drug supplies.

ExxonMobil PNG managing-director Andrew Barry said: “Part of our long term recovery support plan is to reestablish the health care facilities that have been displaced, but at the same time we recognise that the people still need assistance with basic health service which the PNG Salvation Army medical team is able to provide.”

Six medical officers departed on Monday, May 14. They will be stationed at three locations including Huiya in the Mt. Bosavi area near the border of Hela and Western provinces and Habi and Wasowedu in the Western Province.

An additional two medical officers will depart in the coming days and will be at Hides to provide service to Para, Eduawi, Mananda, Komo, Benaria and Juni communities.

ExxonMobil PNG is also providing support for the restoration of education services and community food gardens as part of its long term recovery plan.

The company is also assisting the Government to build infrastructure and key roads and bridges for Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces that were destroyed during the disaster.

Port Moresby road works near completion

Friday May 18, 2018

Major road infrastructure works in and around Port Moresby are due for completion before the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November, according to city manager Bernard Kipit.

In fact, three out of six major road projects will be completed well before the end of August.

Ela Beach is the first major project to be completed on schedule, due to be opened to traffic by the end of July.

That will be followed by Stanley Esplanade in town and Independence Drive in Waigani, both due to be opened for traffic by the end of August.

The rehabilitation of the Freeway, Independence Boulevard, Independence Drive and the Wards Road roundabouts will be completed by the end of October.

All projects are consistent with NCDC’s four year plan.

 Kipit said there was no easy way to avoid the traffic congestion caused by the road works.

“In the example of the Freeway, traffic could not be diverted around site, as the surrounding roads were not designed for heavy or oversized vehicles," he said.

"So the Freeway has had to be rehabilitated in sections.

“But I want to assure the public that the end to our traffic woes is just around the corner.

“The cost to NCDC and our people has been minimal as the road projects have been funded by a series of generous non-tied aid grants from China.

“In the case of Ela Beach where we originally had to remove 100 trees to make way for the new-look Ela Beach.

"We are planting over 1,000 trees – which will transform Ela Beach in to a real showcase for Papua New Guinea, especially with APEC Haus as part of the landscape.

“It’s a win for our people and a win for the environment. 

“Motorists have been patient and their patience will be rewarded with Port Moresby connected with world-class roads infrastructure, the likes we have never before seen in our capital city.

“It has been a case of short term pain for long term gain.

“The new roads will facilitate the further growth and development of our city for the benefit of all.

“I wish to reassure motorists and residents that our major road works will soon come to an end, with world class roads as the reward for our patience, planning and perseverance."

Duterte, Papua New Guinea PM to hold talks Wednesday

by Azer Parrocha, pna.gov.ph
May 15, 2018

MANILA -- Papua New Guinea Prime Minsiter Peter O’Neill arrived in Manila on Tuesday afternoon for a three-day visit where he is scheduled to meet President Rodrigo R Duterte for a scheduled bilateral meeting on Wednesday.

Duterte will also be hosting a state banquet in honor of O’Neill on Wednesday night in Malacañan.

O’Neill arrived at 4:11 p.m. at the Villamor Airbase, according to a statement sent to the media by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

He was welcomed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Pasay City Rep Emi Calixto-Rubiano and Navotas City Rep Tobias "Toby" Tiangco also joined Piñol in welcoming O’Neill.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by PNG Minister of Finance James Marape and Christopher Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of the Papua New Guinea Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Authority.

He will cap off his visit to the country by touring the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija and then proceed to Japan.

Papua New Guinea is this year’s chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Duterte and O’Neill met last year at the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam.

O’Neill was also in Manila during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November 2015. (PNA)

Widnes release Stanton Albert

loverugbyleague.com
May 13, 2018 

Widnes have released Papua New Guinea international Stanton Albert from his contract on compassionate grounds.

Photo courtesy of Richard Long

The 22-year-old joined the Vikings in the off-season from Queensland Cup side PNG Hunters, alongside brother Wellington.

However, Stanton has found chances limited at the Vikings and will return to Papua New Guinea to pursue his career in his home country.

Widnes head coach Denis Betts says it is unfortunate that it didn’t work out for Albert.

He said: “This has been a difficult situation for both Stanton and the club, but ultimately we have had to understand and accept his decision.

“Moving to a new country and settling into a new team can be difficult, and Stanton unfortunately struggled to adjust to moving here in the way that his brother, Wellington, has. Having linked up with the Vikings late into the pre-season, it naturally took Stanton time to get into the condition required for first team action. When we signed Stanton, we also recognised that whilst he had great natural attributes, he also had aspects of his game that required development or adjustment to play competitively in the UK.

“Stanton had been working hard to break into the first team, and we provided focused training and loan appearances at our partners, North Wales Crusaders, to support that progress. Ultimately though, he faced a lot of competition in our forward pack and needed to remain patient to claim his spot in the team. Stanton is someone who wants to play regularly, and this experience has been challenging for him. As a group, we have all tried our best to support his development, make him feel welcome here and support his overall welfare.

“Whilst we believe that Stanton could have been a successful player in the long-term, with ongoing development, we reluctantly agreed to this termination. We hope that this is a positive step for him and wish him all the best for the future.”

And Albert, who was a star for Papua New Guinea at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, says the club will always stay in his heart.

He said: “I have been grateful for the opportunity to join the Vikings, but unfortunately things haven’t worked out as I hoped.

“As a player, it is important to me to feature regularly and I have found my chances limited whilst I adjust to this new environment. I believe that it is the right decision for me to return to my homeland, where I can play regularly.

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, and I am grateful to the coaches and directors for their understanding.

“I would like to thank the players and supporters for the brilliant welcome that they gave me to the club. I wish Widnes Vikings lots of success for the seasons ahead, and look forward to backing Wellington and all the boys as a supporter. Once a Viking, always a Viking.”

Russian warship due to dock in Port Moresby

By PRIMROSE RIORDAN
The Australian
May 14

Russia will dock a warship in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea for the first time in the modern history of both nations, Russian media has announced.

The Russian navy training ship Perekop which will pay a visit to PNG.

Analysts say the move indicates Russia is increasingly interested in the Pacific after the country based 100 personnel in Indonesia’s Papua province and flew two nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers over the South Pacific on their first training mission there for a few days late last year.
The visit put the RAAF Base Darwin on a “short period” of ­“increased readiness”.
The 7000-tonne Perekop training ship is loaded with 200 cadets and armed with anti-submarine rockets and anti-aircraft guns. It will arrive in Port Moresby on Wednesday and stay until Saturday, Russian state media reported, quoting Russia’s navy spokesman Igor Dygalo.
The ship is on a two-month long mission that began in April and has included stopovers in ­Europe and Sri Lanka. Russia’s ministry of defence said the aim of the mission was to conduct exercises to train cadets in navigation.
Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute, said there was a question of what the diplomatic motivation was behind the port stop, considering it strayed from usual Russian naval routes.
“I would join it up to the very unusual aircraft deployment that the Russians did in Indonesia on the other side of the island but there is no sort of bristling military weaponry or capability … it’s really just a visiting of the flag.
“So the question is: what is the diplomatic motivation behind this?” he told The Australian.
“The Russians are more interested in the Pacific if you sort of join the dots of what they did in Fiji with the training mission with the Fijian armed forces.”
In 2016, Russia donated a 20-container shipment of weapons and military hardware to Fiji and stationed Russian troops on the islands to train local forces in how to use the equipment.
The Fijian government said the hardware was to arm Fijian peacekeepers on UN missions and the donation was seen as unusual by Pacific Island experts.
“The security orthodoxy in the Pacific Islands region is changing as new external actors play a greater role in the region, and local states engage in ‘new Pacific diplomacy’, placing ­Australia’s and New Zealand’s ­influence in the region at risk,” experts Anna Powles and Jose Sousa-Santos said in a 2016 paper that examined the Russian ­donation.
Dr Graham said Russia was keen to show it was courting countries that the West considered their partners.
“A poke in the eye for the US — that’s the standard cynical ­interpretation for anything they would do down here,” he said.
“It may just be a fairly low-cost way of showing the flag, ­announcing that Russia is still present and operates globally ... is engaged and has an interest in areas that other countries might regard as their backyard.”
He said PNG’s role as host to the APEC summit this year could also be behind the visit.
The French navy’s Jeanne d’Arc mission arrives in Darwin this week, an amphibious exercise involving two French ships along with British marines.
A Defence spokesman said the department was “aware of a planned port visit to Papua New Guinea by the Russian Navy”.

PNG foreign minister confirms visit of Russian naval vessel

Papua New Guinea Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Rimbink Pato has confirmed the visit of a Russian naval vessel this week.
He said in a statement yesterday that the visit by Russian naval cadets was a "pre APEC gesture".
"In a pre-APEC gesture of friendship, the Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea will welcome the visit of some 200 young people from the Russian Federation," Pato said.
"At a meeting of APEC officials from a variety of member economies this month, Papua New Guinea arranged to host a crew of cadets learning about naval traditions and practices.
"The cadets are on a training tour through four oceans which includes visits to a range of foreign ports."
Pato said the cadets were scheduled to arrive in Port Moresby on Wednesday,  May 16 and depart on Saturday, May 19.
"While in Papua New Guinea they will learn about local culture and customs," he said.
"The cadets are travelling aboard the Perekop training ship, a 138-metre naval vessel
commissioned more than 40 years ago.
"It carries only basic armaments.
"The visit is the first of a range of visits by APEC members in the lead up to the APEC Leaders' Summit in November.
“We welcome youth from all APEC member economies prior to -- and during -- this great event for our country.
“This is not a formal port visit by the Russian Navy but rather a goodwill visit for young people, arranged at a convenient time with so many able to come to our country at once.
“Naturally, we have informed the Australians, our major security partner and close
neighbour, and advised them of the nature of the visit.
“As is usual with our friends and ally, the Australians welcome our attempts to draw
attention to the forthcoming APEC summit, and they support our efforts to cultivate
friendship and understanding among the youth of APEC nations.”

Mothers’ Day:Papua New Guinea among countries where maternal healthcare remains neglected

by Asma Ghani, tribune.com.pk
May 13, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Mother’s Day was celebrated on May 12 to honour mothers in the region. However, in Pakistan the government has put little effort into creating a healthcare plan for mothers, making the maternal mortality rate high among impoverished communities. The lack of an appropriately implemented health plan also leaves many women in poor health after giving birth.

Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

The Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2006-2007 estimated that about 276 women die during pregnancy or after within 42 days due to complications among 100,000 women who give birth in a year. However, the last survey was completely silent about the matter, leaving us with no recent authentic data on maternal deaths in Pakistan.

According to recent UN agency for population (UNFPA) State of the World Population Report 2017, countries such as Bangladesh, Laos, East Timor and Indonesia are seen as being likely to bring their Maternal Mortality Ratios (MMRs) below 70 deaths per 100,000 by the 2030 deadline, in accordance with the UN Sustainable Goals (SDGs). But others like Pakistan join the list of those that would not able to meet this deadline including Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines.

The PDHS 2012-2013 says that about 73% pregnant women in Pakistan receive prenatal care from a skilled healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, midwife, or lady health visitor), but only 52% of women give birth assisted by a skilled provider. And only 48% mothers deliver babies in health facilities. The situation in rural areas is the worst with only 40% of pregnant women giving birth in any health facility, while in urban areas 68% of women give birth in proper healthcare facilities.

One in four women had no prenatal care at all. Prenatal care varies by region as about 30% of women in Balochistan received prenatal care from a skilled provider compared to 94% in Islamabad.

Pregnant women should take iron tablets for at least 90 days during pregnancy to prevent anemia and other complications. According to a government survey only two in ten women took iron tablets for at least 90 days during their pregnancy.

The health of mothers is frail and there are many social, cultural and policy level reasons for that, said Reproductive Health Expert and Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Consultant Dr Samina Naeem Khalid.

Midwives and lady health visitors are not properly trained to refer expecting mothers to the hospitals at an appropriate time, she said, and mothers who after gathering a budget and transport reach basic and rural health centers do not get proper care due to a lack of facilities. The tertiary care hospitals are overworked even in the federal capital and not able to cater to women coming from far off areas with complications, she added.

Even if mothers survive by luck, their nutritional health is poor, she said, adding, “More than half of the women are anemic and giving birth to malnourished children. Marriage at a young age and frequent pregnancies aggravate the situation”.

The provincial governments establish maternal and child healthcare programmes but do not add enough to the budget to expand and equip health facilities to provide better and skilled maternal care. If we want to improve the health of the nation, we will have to give priority to mothers, she asserted.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2018.

Raiders to auction jerseys for Kato Ottio fund


nrl.com | May 12, 2018

Indigenous round for the Canberra Raiders takes on extra significance as they again reach out to help the family of Kato Ottio.

The late Kato Otto played for the  Raiders.

©Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Ottio tragically died early this year when he collapsed after a training run while in Papua New Guinea.

Canberra's jerseys will be auctioned off following their clash with the Cronulla Sharks on Sunday, with proceeds going to the Kato Ottio Memorial Fund.

The 23-year-old's death rocked the Raiders family and coach Ricky Stuart said the auction is the latest measure to try and ease the suffering of Ottio's family.

"Knowing the club how I do, it won't be the last time we help the family," Stuart said.

"Kato was a very special member of the Canberra Raiders and I know we will continue to support that family for a long time ahead. That's what makes our club so great."

Stuart said he expects Paul Gallen to play, with the Cronulla Sharks skipper being given every chance to prove he has overcome a knee injury.

Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is likely to have Gallen on a time restriction if he plays in the crucial clash at GIO Stadium on Sunday.

"I know he's going to be here because he's asked me to help his young bloke out being a ball boy," Stuart said.

"I said 'if he wears a Raiders jumper he can do whatever he wants'. If he plays he plays, if he doesn't he doesn't. Gal will know if he's right and we're planning on him playing.

"He's their spiritual leader and they always give us a tough performance at home, so without or without Gal we're waiting for a really tough game."



Canberra will be aiming for their fifth win in six games and a place inside the top eight for the first time this season after losing their first four.

"Every game's important, especially when you see the congestion of the competition table," Stuart said.

"Stringing a few games together really gives you a boost in the position on the table at the moment."

With wins over bottom eight teams Canterbury, Parramatta, North Queensland and Gold Coast Titans, Sunday's duel with the Sharks shapes as one of Canberra's biggest tests of the season.

Stuart is confident in his side and refuses to buy into the notion the Raiders have only beaten teams not in the finals picture.

"I don't care what other people think of our footy team as - it's what we believe in," he said.

"I know what I've got here when we play well. From the outside looking in, I don't care what opinion is out there. It's about what we've got here and when we're on and we all play to our strengths, we're a strong footy team."

Canberra Raiders keeping Kato Ottio's dream alive

The Sydney Morning Herald
By Caden Helmers
12 May 2018

Kato Ottio had a smile that could light up a room, and you would be hard-pressed to find a photo of him that doesn't show it.

Kato Ottio had a smile that could light up a room.

He arrived at Canberra Raiders headquarters with one goal - earn enough money to build his mother a house in Papua New Guinea.

Sia Soliola modelling the jersey that will be auctioned off for the Kato Ottio memorial fund.

At first he was almost silent - he knew little English and was a long way from home. But he was embraced by the club that is now working tirelessly to "keep his dream alive".
The Raiders were rocked when Ottio died of heatstroke in January, two days before he was due to fly to England to join the Super League's Widnes Vikings.
Now the club is paying tribute to Ottio through its indigenous round jerseys, which will bear his name on the inside collar when the Raiders face the Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.
The jersey was unveiled after an indigenous smoking ceremony at Raiders headquarters and boasts the handprints of players from different backgrounds.
It is the name on the inside collar that will be on Raiders prop Sia Soliola's mind when he enters the playing arena.
"He was really quiet when he first came, as expected, but he really grew group on the group," Soliola said.
"With a lot of the photos you’ve seen, he just never stopped smiling. In 99 per cent of the photos that everyone would have seen of Kato was when he was smiling, because that’s just the kind of character he was.
"He loved a good time, enjoyed anybody’s company, and he always liked to joke. He was actually a bit of a practical joker which was always nice to see. A couple of years after he was quite a cheeky fella which was actually pretty cool.
"For someone like Kato who was minimal in his English and still learning the game, taking him away from PNG and the groups he was used to, to come down here and achieve all the things he did and made a real big impact in terms of who he was.
"It’s awesome that the club can promote and take one step further in doing this for Kato and keeping his dream alive, making it more of a reality."
Ottio's presence was felt from the field to the boardroom, with Raiders chief executive Don Furner exploring the possibility of launching a scholarship for a rugby league player from Papua New Guinea in Ottio's honour.
"Honestly everyone really liked him, he was just always happy. It’s unbelievably tragic," Furner said.
"To be honest he would have been an NRL player with us the following year, but he did the knee and it was a pretty bad knee reco and he probably needed a bit more time.
"We thought it wouldn’t hurt him to go to England, do a year or two over there, and then keep our eye on him. He’d come a long way from being a volleyballer.
"He was very good over the first two years and gained confidence after the knee reco. It would have been a fantastic story. It’s just very, very sad but I know his family are very grateful for our continued efforts."
The jerseys will be auctioned off in the second memorial dedicated to Ottio after the club held a memorial service led by the Capital Wantoks following the round two clash with Newcastle.
The Raiders flew Ottio's his mother Joyce and siblings Ahulo, Opao and Helai to Canberra for that game and coach Ricky Stuart says the Kumuls flyer will always be a part of the Green Machine.
"Knowing the club how I do, it won’t be the last time we help the family," Stuart said.
"Kato was a very special member of the Canberra Raiders and I know that we will continue to support that family for a long time ahead. That’s what makes our club so great."

Donate to the Kato Ottio memorial fund here.

NRL ROUND 10

Sunday: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Canberra Stadium, 4.10pm.

Tickets from Ticketek.

Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Joseph Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Blake Austin, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Iosia Soliola, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Joseph Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Josh Papalii. Interchange from: 14. Ata Hingano, 15. Luke Bateman, 16. Charlie Gubb, 17. Dunamis Lui, 18. Liam Knight, 19. Michael Oldfield.
Sharks: 1. Valentine Holmes, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Ricky Leutele, 5. Edrick Lee, 6. Matt Moylan, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Kurt Capewell, 14. Joseph Paulo, 13. Paul Gallen (c). Interchange from: 15. James Segeyaro, 16. Avagalu Seumanufagai, 17. Jack Williams, 18. Kurt Dillion, 19. Braden Uele, 20. Briton Nikora.

Caden Helmers is a sports reporter for The Canberra Times

Russian vessel poised for historic port call in Papua New Guinea

sputniknews.com
May 12, 2018

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A Russian warship will make a first-ever port call this month in the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea, Russia’s Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo told reporters.

"The Perekop training ship will make a historic business port call in Port Moresby," he said.

" This will be the first port call by a Russian military ship in the history of Russian-Papua New Guinean relations."

The warship with a crew of more than 200 cadets will arrive in the capital of the southwestern Pacific nation next Wednesday and will reportedly stay there through Saturday.

Nararas proudly flying PNG flag

by Malum Nalu, thenational.com.pg
May 11, 2018

THE Flying Nararas from Milne Bay have been holding high the Papua New Guinea flag high internationally from their base in the United Arab Emirates.
The latest achievement was in February, 2018, when young Nigel Narara checked out on the Airbus A330 aircraft as a captain.

Two generations of pilots. Captains Nigel, Tico and Granger Matata in a photo shoot prior to Dublin, Shanghangai and Johannesburg respectively.

He is now flying as a commander on both the A330 and A320 under the mixed-fleet flying programme with Etihad Airways.
Nigel moved to the UAE as a seven-year-old year old when his father Granger Narara began flying for Emirates Airlines in 1991, after leaving Air Niugini to work with Emirates Airlines as an A310 captain
After 15 years in Emirates, Granger moved to Etihad Airways where he is currently a senior instructor on A330/340 aircraft.
Nigel completed all his primary and secondary education in the UAE and went on to Embry Riddle Aeronautical College in Prescott, Arizona, USA in 2001 to do a degree in aeronautical science, until the events of Sept 11, 2001 put an end to those dreams.
He then transferred to the Royal Queensland Aero Club at Archerfield in Brisbane in 2003 where he completed his commercial pilot’s license and instrument rating.
He started his flying career with Milne Bay Airlines (now PNG Air), where he worked from 2004 to 2006, flying the Twin-Otter based in Port Moresby and Kairik in Enga.
In 2007, Nigel was able to secure a job as a cadet first officer with Air Arabia, a low cost airline based in the UAE, flying the Airbus A320 on a regional network, until August 2012 when he was employed by Etihad as a first officer on the Airbus A330.
When the wheels of the Etihad Airways Airbus A330 Flight 055 lifted off the ground in Abu Dhabi bound for Brussels on March 30, 2013, another milestone in PNG aviation history was made.
At the controls of Flight 055 was Captain Granger Narara, of Dobu Island, Milne Bay, and his co-pilot was none other than his oldest son, Nigel Narara.
This was the first time that a PNG father-and-son team was in control of an international airliner and a great achievement for PNG aviation and the Narara family.
“This is the highlight of my 36-year flying career, being able to fly with my son”, Granger said at the time.
“An achievement like this is a great way to tell the world that PNG can and does produce some of the best aviators in the world, something that we as a nation can all be proud of.
“This success is also being replicated in many other top notch professions, notably in the international oil and mining sector where the number of PNG professionals around the planet is increasing.
“We can be very proud that as a small nation we are able to produce pilots, engineers, oil and gas operators and many other professionals that can stand up and be counted amongst the best in the world.”
Nigel said: “I have always wanted to fly with Dad; he wasn’t as hard a captain as I thought he would be.”
His uncle Tico Narara, younger brother of Granger, joined Emirates in 1998 and was the first PNG pilot to commercially fly the big beast, the Airbus A380.
“We feel so blessed that we have been able to achieve so much in our flying careers,” says Captain Granger Narara, the senior.
“It is an honour for our family and our country.”
After this photo shoot, Capt Nigel Narara’s next flight was to Dublin, Ireland, Capt Tico Narara’s next flight was to Shanghai, China and Capt Granger Narara’s next flight was to Johannesburg, South Africa.
The world is really their playground.
Something for other Papua New Guineans to emulate.

Papua New Guinea welcomes Pacific funding boost by Australia and New Zealand

Papua New Guinea welcomes the enhanced financial commitment of Australia and New Zealand to the Pacific, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Rimbink Pato said today.
“The big increase in their budgets by both of these close friends of PNG looks set to give Pacific Island states the opportunity to boost our capacity to develop economically and in governance and security,”Pato said.
“Australia is already our biggest development partner in the Pacific, and to PNG in particular, but this generous increase to $1.3 billion makes it the biggest assistance package ever and so is destined to have a significant impact.
“We are grateful for the support of the esteemed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his respected Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, and all those other ministers I recently met with in Brisbane and London.
“The extremely generous assistance for us to host APEC—nearly $20 million—and to install an underwater communications cable are examples of the support, but let me also mention the funding for future leaders and many other projects too numerous to list.”
Pato  New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced a 30 per cent increase in his country’s foreign aid budget to reach NZ$714 million, "and we are very pleased that this is going to the neighbourhood, to the Pacific".
Pato said it had become clear during recent meetings between Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and his Australian and New Zealand counterparts, as well as between foreign and trade ministers, that the relationship with Papua New Guinea was highly valued.
“As the Pacific Island country with the biggest population, land area and economy, we were strong advocates for boosting the economic, security and general development of all the Pacific Island Forum states and territories, and that was well received by our allies, the Australians and New Zealanders.”

Blue Pacific

 Pato said it was time for the ‘Blue Pacific’ to become a model of development, security and stability, and environmental protection and resilience.
“Our countries form an ‘ocean continent’ and cover a third of the world’s surface, and if we can move ahead in peace and prosperity, then that is a good example to the rest of the world," he said.
“The recent renewed interest in the region by the United Kingdom and France is also a good sign that we will have more opportunities to improve the daily lives of our citizens and the future opportunities for their children.”
Pato said Papua New Guinea also welcomes the development assistance provided by friends such as Japan, the United States of America, South Korea and the People’s Republic of China.
“We encourage those friends to play an appropriate economic and security role in the Pacific as I mentioned, for example to China’s foreign minister, His Excellency Wang Yi just last month,” he said
“As host of APEC this year, we will see all the countries in our region, including the Pacific Island states, come to Papua New Guinea where we believe we will see a renewed commitment to the rules based international order under which trade will be free and fair.”

* Additional Information:

The 2018-19 Australian Government Budget was released on May 8. Total Australian official development assistance to Papua New Guinea will increase from $546.3 million in 2017-18 to $572.2 million in 2018-19.
This funding will go towards initiatives that will directly benefit the lives of Papua New Guineans, such as the new high-speed undersea internet cable to be completed in late-2019, continued access to the Pacific Labour Facility, and continued support for programs that build economic growth and trade opportunities. It will also support ongoing programs in health, education, infrastructure, law and justice, gender and subnational priorities in Papua New Guinea.
http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/corporate/portfolio-budget-statements/Pages/budget-highlights-2018-19.aspx

Australian development assistance to Papua New Guinea increases by $26 million

2018/2019 Budget - Papua New Guinea

Australia has a strong and enduring partnership with Papua New Guinea, our nearest neighbour.

Close cooperation on economic, security, and development matters, as well as a broad range of people-to-people links, highlight the depth and breadth of our relationship.

Development cooperation with Papua New Guinea

• Total Australian official development assistance to Papua New Guinea (PNG) will rise from $546.3 million in 2017/18 to $572.2 million in the 2018/19 financial year

• The bilateral allocation is estimated at $519.5 million, which includes: 

- $62 million for commitments under the Joint Understanding;
- $29.6 million towards the high-speed undersea telecommunications cable; and
- over $400 million to support ongoing programs targeting health, education, - infrastructure, law and justice, gender and subnational priorities in PNG.

Supporting PNG to host APEC in 2018
Australia is expanding its support to bolster PNG’s hosting of APEC:

• $14.4 million to strengthen PNG’s cyber security capabilities in the lead up to hosting APEC Leaders’ Week and beyond; 
• Up to $10 million  to boost internet connectivity  and strengthen telecommunications; and 
• $5.4 million in support for policing, fire fighting and other hosting assistance.

This brings our total support for PNG’s hosting of APEC to $130 million.

Australia’s development assistance priorities

In 2018–19, Australian support for PNG will focus on:

• supporting the future digital economy through the delivery of a new undersea high-speed telecommunications cable from Australia to Port Moresby, a project that will have a positive impact on business engagement and significant social benefits 
• improving the lives of women and girls across all areas of work through investments that: enhance women’s voice in decision-making, leadership and peace building; promote economic empowerment; end violence against women and girls; and increase access to support services
• enabling economic growth by investing in infrastructure, innovation and business partnerships; leveraging finance for development; supporting agriculture and rural development; improving the business enabling environment; developing improved financial markets; and deepening financial inclusion 
• supporting effective governance, with an emphasis on working with provinces and districts to improve service delivery and economic opportunity; supporting the contribution of communities, churches and the private sector; and enhancing the accountability, legitimacy and responsiveness of law and justice agencies
• enhancing health by targeting maternal and child health and communicable diseases; strengthening health security; and helping to build a more effective health system
• enhancing the education sector by improving the quality of education for young children; equipping students with the skills and qualifications necessary for employment; and nurturing the leadership qualities needed for the country’s development
• cultivating a culture of gender inclusiveness.