Launch of the National TB Awareness Campaign

Prime Minister O'Neill will launch a National Awareness Campaign tomorrow as part of the ongoing fight against tuberculosis. 

The campaign targets specific locations around the nation including National Capital District, Gulf and Western provinces.

“The awareness campaign will run alongside current activities to confront TB,” a spokesman for O’Neill said today.

“ This will remind people of essential information relating to TB that is often overlooked and can lead to critical situations for those who contract the disease, as well as expand potential for further transmission.  

“The key messages are that people need to be aware of the symptoms and seek medical help, that there is a cure and it is free, and that people who contract TB must complete their treatment.

“Posters are being placed around the nation, there will be newspaper, leaflet, and SMS information, and we have already released some early television and radio commercials to enhance awareness sooner rather than later.”

Young Papua New Guineans urged to apply for Queen's Young Leaders Awards

Young Papua New Guinean leaders are being encouraged to nominate or apply for the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards.

The Awards recognise young (18-29 years) leaders from Commonwealth nations who are overcoming adversity and contributing to their communities.

This unique, life-changing Award provides winners with a tailored package of training and mentoring and a one-week residential programme in the UK, during which they will receive their Award from Her Majesty The Queen.

With this support, Award winners will be expected to continue and develop the work they are already doing in their communities.

Each application/nomination for the award must meet the following criteria:

1.      Applicants/nominees need to have proven experience of working to improve their communities locally, regionally or at a national level and be able to show evidence of their achievements.

2.      Applicants/nominees must be aged between 18 and 28 before December 16,  2014. This ensures that all Award winners will be under the age of 30 by the time they finish the one-year programme.

3.      Applicants/nominees must be citizens of a Commonwealth country or citizens of an Overseas Territory (of a Commonwealth Member).

4.      Applicants/nominees need to demonstrate evidence of their leadership qualities.

5.      All applicants/nominees need to be supported by a suitable referee.

6.      Priority will be given to individuals who have overcome challenges to achieve their goals

Applications close on  October 10.

Applications and nominations must be lodged online atwww.queensyoungleaders.com

Sport: PNG cricketers snap losing streak

Radio New Zealand

It's taken four games but the Papua New Guinea cricketers finally secured their first victory in the South Australian Premier League, beating the Southern Force by three wickets in Darwin on Sunday.
A day after losing to the Northern Mavericks, the Barramundi's restricted the Force to just 211 for 9 from their 50 overs, with Assad Vala snaring 3 for 37 off six overs.
In reply, Tony Ura anchored the PNG innings with 76 from 72 balls while Mahura Dai added 66 as the visitors reached their target with 12 overs and three wickets to spare.
The team now heads to Adelaide to begin their T20 campaign against the Outbacks on Saturday.

Human resistance to malaria varies depending on location, study finds

By David Mark

ABC

Humans have evolved different defences against malaria depending on where they live, scientists have found.

Photo: The study found resistance to malaria, transmitted through infected mosquitoes, varies depending on location. (AAP: University of Queensland, file photo)

About half the world's population is exposed to the disease, which kills more than 500,000 people each year.
A study, conducted over 10 years across 11 countries, looked for specific mutations known as markers in genes that result in resistance against malaria in almost 12,000 people.
Laboratory head at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Dr Ivo Mueller, said the study found there is a close evolutionary interplay between malaria and human populations.
"It is a complex interaction between the parasite and the human genome," he said.
"Part of this study was done in Papua New Guinea, but most of these mutations that we found are actually not found in Papua New Guinea because people there never acquired these mutations.
"On the other hand we have a whole set of other mutations that protects people from malaria in Papua New Guinea that we do not find in African populations."
Dr Muller said that the increasing ability to look at genome interactions between parasites and hosts at a detailed level will hopefully result in a greater understanding of the disease.
"That will eventually allow us hopefully to develop new medicines and new vaccines and target these key interactions between the human host and the malaria parasite," he said.

AFL Commission head recalls PNG's IC victory

World Footy News

Saturday, September 27 2014

Contributed by: Brett Northey

AFL Commission Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick was an onlooker at the 2014 International Cup (pictured here at the Women's Grand Final with fellow commissioners Linda Dessau and Sam Mostyn) and it's pleasing he took the time to mention it during his AFL Grand Final pre-match address.

 

The full speech can be read here, and although it was only one sentence, it was good that the IC got a mention, as it shows he's not ashamed to spruik the international development of the game.
"The International Cup won by Papua New Guinea was again a great success, and goes from strength to strength. Our game really has no boundaries."
Fans of growing the women's side of the sport, as we all should be, would also be pleased to read Fitzpatrick say (speaking about women's football although no doubt primarily within Australia):
"Women’s football is on the march, and the AFL is going to support it."

Butibam clashes with NS Busu in Lae men's basketball grand final

By BOB AARON in Lae

All roads leads to Niall Reserve Basketball Courts on Sunday as two neighouring Ahi villages – Butibam and   N S Busu ( Yanga) -  clash  in Lae  basketball premier men’s division grand final.

NS Busu's Percy Aaron shooting for basket in a recent game against Butibam at the Niall Reserve Courts.-Picture by PETER KESU SAYAMA

Busu are the defending champions having beaten Unitech Bulls for the major honour last year and are up against a team that is yet to lose a game this year.

All throughout this year, Butibam has beaten Busu two times during the regular season and their third victory was against them two weeks ago during the major semi- finals.

Busu on the hand have beaten Unitech Bulls and Red Beach last week to set up this meeting with their Tribal neighbours.

The last time both teams met in the grand final was in 2009 which Butibam won by a point.

Interestingly, the match up for both teams will be the battle between the two sets of brothers in opposite teams in which Butibam will be led by the Giali brothers in the likes of Kila, Noah and Joel up against the Aaron brothers of Percy, Wayne and their young sibling Jotham.

The Giali brothers are all over six feer and will try to donate the boards in both defence and offense.

Ably assisting them will be Hapo Maliaki, Apelis Stafford  and Ashley Boussougou.

Busu on the other hand have lofty Russel Stafford and his brother – in- law Junior Oscar and runaway train- Micheal Kmarma -  who would be handy around the boards and keyways.

In terms of heights, Butibam has the upper hand whilst Busu have speed and accuracy in outsider perimeter shoots in three pointers- something that Butibam must be fully aware of and must address quickly before and during the match.

In the women’s premier match, defending champions N S Busu lock horns with old rivals Unitech Bulls in the decider.

Both teams have not been consistence in their performances this year and a lot will depend on the day on who plays well and according to the game play will win the final match of the year.

Bulls boost Lousia Wallance, Nelly Jomsop, and sisters Esther and Vivian Guwae whilst Busu banks their hopes on Christie Oscar- Stafford, Angeline Marupi, Martha Bonga- Narakou and veterans Martha Aaron and Mary-Elavo Amos

In the under 20 divisions, N S Busu takes on Butibam in the boys whilst Exodus battles N S Busu in the girls.

Lutheran women launch strategic plan

By Sanang Zazoring in Boana

WOMEN of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea this week launched their Five-Year Strategic Plan, complementing the National Government’s policy on government-church partnership and receiving the commendation and support of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

In a historic moment at Boana station during the opening of the 14^th Lutheran National Women’s Conference on Sunday, September 21, the plan was presented to O’Neill who received it on behalf of the Government. 
“I am happy to see such an initiative being taken by the Lutheran women in publishing such policy planning which emphasises key areas of human development to help and sustain women’s work and build the healthy community in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

The Prime Minister reiterated his earlier message delivered at the national synod in Karkar earlier this year when he said his government was always on the standby to work closely with churches and other non-government organisations in delivering services to the people of PNG.

 O’Neill also highlighted and commended the outcome of the plan in shaping families and strengthening the base of PNG communities through women’s empowerment. 

To show this support, the Prime Minister presented K200,000 to the ELC-PNG Women’s division to extend their work.

Previously, women’s work within the church was conducted ad hoc making this working document, which is aligned with the church’s Vision 2020 and the National Government’s Vision 2050, a strategic and timely guideline for women’s spiritual and physical growth within the church.

The plan carries six areas of emphasis with the goal of achieving integral human development. These are Spiritual Development, Physical Development, Economic Empowerment, Social Status and Liberation, Intellectual Capacity Building, and the Strengthening of the church’s Women’s division.

The strategic plan has come about as a result of years of consultative and planning work contributed by women of the church’s 17 districts.

In attendance at the opening and launch on Sunday with Prime Minister O’Neill and Bishop of ELC-PNG Giegere Wenge were local MP Gisuwat Siniwin, Morobe Governor Kelly Naru, business woman and leader Janet Sape, former Morobe premier and woman leader Annie Moaitz and several senior government workers.

The head of Lutheran Church, Bishop Giegere Wenge said the plan would  help the church in general in guiding and strengthening the family unit within the church.

 Naru also gave his support to the Lutheran women and commended them for taking such an important step through this initiative.