News

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide since February 2021 with most new cases reported from the National Capital District (NCD). As of 18 March 2021, a total of 2790 confirmed cases including 36 deaths have been reported. Fourteen of these deaths have been reported since the beginning of March 2021. The total number of reported cases and deaths are likely significantly underreported due to poor reporting and very limited testing across the country. Nineteen of PNG’s 22 provinces are now reporting COVID-19 cases, with two new Provinces reporting their first cases in the last five days. Of particular concern is the recent mourning period for the late Grand Chief and PNG’s first Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare which involved mass gatherings with little regard to COVID-19 protocols over the past two weeks, with poor compliance to mask use, social distancing and hand hygiene.
 
Despite the exponential increase in the number of cases and a corresponding increase in deaths in recent weeks, testing rates remain critically low across the country. Fewer than 60,000 PCR tests (GeneXpert or RT-PCR) have been conducted in PNG since the beginning of the pandemic.
 
There are increasing reports of PNG’s hospitals being overwhelmed, with a large number of healthcare workers recently infected at facilities in several Provinces, including NCD, West Sepik, and Jiwaka. With inadequate healthcare infrastructure across the country, small decreases in the health workforce or even the temporary shutdown of services can have significant ramifications.
 
Immediate Needs
PNG is now facing a surge COVID-19 cases. Key issues that are inhibiting the response are:

• Limited surveillance, contact tracing and isolation management/monitoring capacity;
• A small health workforce which has been depleted by an increase in health worker infections;
• Limited isolation and critical care capacity, particularly outside of Port Moresby;

PNG requires support from international EMTs to respond to the surge in COVID-19 cases. EMTs that have completed or are in process of completing EMT classification will be considered. The immediate need is for Type 1 and or specialized care teams capable of deploying into and supporting Provincial/District Hospitals to establish effective triage, isolation and acute care (initially up to four international teams).

EMTs may consider scaled deployments and multiple rotations, starting with smaller teams that can be expanded, if required. Provincial and District hospitals in regions experiencing cluster outbreaks are in the greatest need of support to manage the increased patient load.

You will find the full request with more detailed information here.

All teams interested in deploying that meet the criteria should email their offers of assistance and registration forms (click here for form) to Mr Anthony Eshofonie (based in country) at eshofoniea@who.int  with cc to the EMT Secretariat (emteams@who.int) and Sean Casey (scasey@who.int) before 24 March 2021.

Deployment of Emergency Medical Teams is subject to approval by the Ministry of Health and HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea. Once in the field, the coordination of EMT activities is led by the Ministry of Health and supported by WHO. Teams are expected to be able to comply with the minimum standards of being a deployable EMT.  The EMT will be self-sufficient as required by the minimum standard including PPE for the team.  We thank you in advance for your assistance.

Emergency Medical Teams Secretariat