The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA), in partnership with the National Department of Health and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has successfully delivered specialized training on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to strengthen workforce capacity across the national capital district.
A total of twenty-one (21) frontline health officers from ten urban clinics, including Gerehu General Hospital, completed the program. The training focused on building the skills of health workers in the early detection, management, and prevention of NTDs.
Globally, 21 NTDs have been identified, of which 10 are found in Papua New Guinea. This training highlighted five priority diseases of national concern: Leprosy, Yaws, Filariasis, Buruli Ulcer, and Scabies. These conditions disproportionately affect communities in underserved urban and peri-urban areas, emphasizing the need for strengthened technical knowledge among healthcare providers.
Participants were drawn from a broad network of facilities across Port Moresby, ensuring that the knowledge and skills acquired will be shared with health teams and cascaded to communities citywide. Equipped with updated knowledge and practical skills, the officers are now better prepared to strengthen frontline responses and improve public health services.
This initiative reflects the Government of Papua New Guinea’s commitment, together with its technical partners, to reduce the burden of NTDs and improve health outcomes in the country. Chief Executive Officer of NCDPHA, Dr. Robin Oge, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to workforce development: “Upskilling staff at the facility level with stronger knowledge of diseases like Neglected Tropical Diseases is a vital step forward. Building capacity within our workforce is key to delivering effective health services,” said Dr. Oge.
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