A NEW milestone has been reached with the processing of Birth Certificates for infants in Western Highlands Province.
Mothers of newborns delivered at the Mount Hagen Provincial Hospital have become the first in the country to receive official birth certificates for their babies. They become the first mothers in the country whose babies have received their birth certificates immediately upon delivery through a programme making birth registry an embedded service at public health service delivery points like hospitals.
Leslie Simon, Acting Registrar of Civil and Identity Registry said the landmark moment reflects the government’s continued commitment to ensuring every child is assured their right to legal identity from birth.
“Birth registration helps children access the services they need to grow, learn and reach their potential. As Papua New Guinea advances towards Vision 2050, ensuring every child is registered and recognised is an investment in human capital, stronger national planning and a more inclusive and prosperous future,” said Simon.
This advanced step in ensuring birth certificates are delivered at the hospital level is facilitated through the hospital’s Birth Registration Desk through a joint exercise by the Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry (PNGCIR), the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA) and UNICEF.
464 birth registrations have been recorded since the Birth Registration Desk was established at Mount Hagen Provincial Hospital in November of 2025.
228 of the 464 newborns received birth certificates, and the remaining certificates are in the process of being printed and will soon be distributed to parents.
PNG UNICEF Country Representative, Dr. Veera Mendonca, said the integration of birth registration into health services, including antenatal care and maternity services, is helping families register children early and access official documentation more easily.
“This successful initiative shows that more children can receive birth certificates when registration services are brought closer to families,” said Dr Mendonca.
He added that mothers must understand the value of birth certificates. They give children legal identity and help them access essential services throughout life.
The integrating of birth registration into health facilities will make the process easier and encourages mothers to give birth where skilled care is available.
By expanding this approach across Papua New Guinea, every child can be registered from the beginning and have the protection, identity and opportunities they deserve.”
The milestone reflects the commendable leadership of the PNG Government , through the PNGCIR and the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, in bringing birth registration closer to families.
Together, the Australian government and UNICEF are working hand in hand to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems across the country.
The leadership of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority has been instrumental in this partnership by providing the space and operational support needed to bring birth registration services into the hospital setting.
Birth registration is often described as a child’s first right.
It gives children legal recognition and helps them access health care, education, protection, and other essential services throughout their lives.
However, in Papua New Guinea, only 13 per cent of children are registered at birth.
Without a birth certificate, many children struggle to prove their age, parentage or identity, increasing their risk of exploitation, exposure to violence, exclusion and vulnerability.
With support from the Australian government, UNICEF has worked with the PNGCIR to strengthen birth registration at both policy and service delivery levels.
This has included technical, financial and coordination support for implementing the CRVS Action Plan; procurement of 44 mobile registration kits; establishment of birth registration offices in PHAs; training for health and CIR staff; and provision of awareness materials to increase demand for birth registration services.
The Western Highland Province milestone demonstrates how integrating birth registration into health facilities can help close registration gaps and reach families early.
Continued government leadership, stronger coordination, increased domestic investment and expansion of birth registration through health facilities and outreach services will be critical to achieving universal birth registration for every child in Papua New Guinea.