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Political leadership critical for PNG to achieve MDGs

Delegates on a study tour to PNG from 8-15 April 2006 went to the heart of the matter, visiting villages, community projects, hospitals and schools. Above: NZPPD Chair Steve Chadwick and Australian Labour MP Duncan Kerr at a remedial farm for young men in Port Moresbey. Below: Dr Paul Hutchison with pupils at Zumara Primary School in Lae, which has 300 students, and no electricity or water.

Unified government leadership is critical to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), including open, multi-party leadership on stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS. This is one of the key themes that emerged during the MP study tour to PNG from 8-15 April 2006. NZPPD Chair Steve Chadwick, Vice-Chair Paul Hutchison and member Tim Barnett returned on Saturday 15 April from the week-long visit that focused on the MDGs, and the importance of good sexual and reproductive health if they are to be achieved in the Pacific. Australian Federal Labour MP Duncan Kerr also participated, as well as journalists from TVNZ'S One News, the New Zealand Herald and the Listener, who will file stories from the visit.
Building on a collaborative relationship formed during the last MP study tour to Asia in 2004, the MPs met with Dame Carol Kidu, Minister for Community Development and PNG's only woman MP. The delegates also met with Dr Puka Temu, the Minister assisting the Prime Minister on HIV/AIDS, who has called for 100 per cent condom use to help halt the epidemic. As well as official meetings, delegates went to the heart of the matter as they met and talked with sex workers, visited hospitals, schools, villages and non-government organisations. Steve said there is much good work being done at a community level, with real leaders heading NGOs such as the PNG Family Health Association. But to build on this, there is a need for systems strengthening, better accountability, and integration of sectors, she said.
"It was evident during our visit that corruption at all levels of government, from central to local, is hindering HIV/AIDS prevention and other efforts to improve the lives of PNG's people. In terms of HIV/AIDS, PNG is at crisis point - it's time to ensure funds go where they need to go and to stop the rhetoric."
Political leadership is also needed to combat the stigma and discrimination around HIV/AIDS that is helping fuel the epidemic, Steve said.
A report on the study tour including other key themes and recommendations will be presented at the next NZPPD meeting, along with photos and video footage.

View media release

The study tour was funded by the Asia Pacific Alliance for the International Conference on Population and Development (APA/ICPD). 

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FPAID and the Global Education Centre  (GEC) have launched a new secondary school Geography resource that focuses on development in Fiji and Samoa, providing a contrast to the United Kingdom and Brazil curriculum materials currently being used.

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Did you know that every minute around the world...
•	one woman dies from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
•	10 teenage girls undergo an unsafe abortion.
•	13 infants under 12 months die
•	57 people catch an STI
•	11 people are infected with HIV
•	the population increases by 150 people

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