As transmission rates soar, Papua New Guinea has declared a national HIV crisis to try and galvanize action to prevent the spread of the virus.
UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation estimate the Pacific nation recorded 11,000 new cases last year alone.
That’s equivalent to 30 new positive tests a day including seven newborns, who can be prevented from contracting HIV through antiretroviral therapy.
PNG Health Minister Elias Kapavore said the trend was “deeply concerning”.
“As such, I am declaring this a National HIV crisis,” he told a press conference in Port Moresby.
The declaration is more than symbolic, activating a national emergency response plan enabling cross-sector co-ordination and investment in HIV services.
Adding to the anguish at the figures is the advancement of treatment and prevention options for HIV.
In a supplied image, Papua New Guinea Health Secretary Ken Wai poses with some HIV antiretroviral medication at the National Department Of Health Building in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Papua New Guinea health officials are ramping up efforts to fight HIV transmission. (AAP Image/Supplied by UNAIDS)
Most crucial is improving testing rates, so that more of the estimated 120,000 in Papua New Guinea with HIV can seek treatment.
Acting PNG health secretary Ken Wai said testing every pregnant woman can allow them to know their status and then access medication that prevents transmitting the virus to their child.
“We must scale-up access to HIV testing and treatment, particularly for groups most at risk. These priority initiatives should be offered at health facilities nationwide, and will require community leadership and support,” he said.
Mr Kapavore called HIV “a disease of inequality”.
“It is time for all of us to step up. I personally commit to raising this issue with my fellow ministers and parliamentarians and ensuring the urgent allocation of resources to protect our people – especially the next generation of Papua New Guineans,” he said.
The uptick reverses a decade of progress made to 2010, when World Vision reported new infections fell by roughly half to roughly 6000 a year.
A woman with ties to Papua New Guinea is facing serious charges in Australia, accused of luring young Papua New Guineans with promises of education scholarships and then forcing them to work on farms. She has been charged with human trafficking and debt bondage offences.
The woman, who holds dual Australian and Nigerian citizenship and is based in PNG, was arrested at Brisbane Airport in Australia on Wednesday after arriving from Papua New Guinea.
Australian federal police allege that between 2021 and 2023, fifteen PNG nationals who travelled to Australia for study were instead forced to work against their will. Some were allegedly made to work seven days a week and up to ten hours a day.
The 56-year-old woman is accused of enticing these young people, aged between 19 and their mid-30s, to Queensland, Australia, with the false promise of education scholarships.
It’s alleged that these students were forced to sign legal documents and agree to repay costs for tuition, airfares, visa applications, insurance, and legal fees.
There are also allegations that she threatened their family members back here in Papua New Guinea.
Police claim the woman made the students work on farms across Queensland, which is against their visa conditions, and that she received their wages directly as repayment for their supposed debts.
The Australian Federal Police have described these allegations as deeply troubling.
“These are individuals who are young, that’s a point of vulnerability,” AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said.
“They’re extremely isolated. They are pursuing an education, a dream to come here to Australia, opportunities that they don’t get in their own country, and they’re placed into a position that they weren’t prepared for and didn’t know how to get out of.”
He added that some of the victims are still in Australia and are receiving support from the Red Cross.
The woman appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was charged with 31 offences.
These include four counts of trafficking in persons, which can lead to a maximum of 12 years in prison, and 13 counts of debt bondage, which is a form of modern slavery. She was granted bail and is expected to return to court on September 19.
The words of Pope Francis still resonates in the Government almost a week after he left.
As Papua New Guinea celebrates its 49th year of Independence, Prime Minister James Marape echoes words of peace and unity for Papua New Guinea.
Marape called for forgiveness and reconciliation during the country’s 49th independence anniversary.
The Prime Minister said the Pope’s message was in line with the dreams and aspirations of the country’s Founding Fathers at Independence.
“I want us all to bear in mind and keep in our hearts the message by Pope Francis who visited us earlier this month. The Pontiff spoke of tolerance, forgiveness, empathy and unity. These are important as our country turns 49 years today.
“Despite our political differences, cultural and language diversity, we have remained united as a nation for 49 years. That is something we all must be proud of,” he said.
The Prime Minister in remembering the joyous events of 1975 and in honor of PNG’s Founding Fathers, appealed to all citizens to stay united as a nation for the next 49 years.
“We must find a common resolve to remain united, to heal the divides and to bridge the gaps that exist in our midst, and to ensure our people in spite of the differences of tribe, religion, colour of skin – so long as we call PNG home, we must make PNG a better place for all.
“We must do this as we near our 50th Independence anniversary next year 2025,” he said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at PNG’s 49th Independence Anniversary dinner on the night of Sunday, 15th September 2024 at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, Konedobu.
The stadium is a significant part of PNG’s history as an Independent Nation. On the 16th of September 1975, the Australian flag was officially lowered at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and the PNG flag raised for the first time.
The Pacific Leatherback turtle, an awe-inspiring species, now faces critical endangerment due to numerous factors, including industrial fishing, nestling and egg harvesting, and water pollution. Despite these challenges, leatherback turtles hold immense cultural significance for indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea.
Villages such as Karkum, Tokain in Sumkar, and Mur, Yamai, and Male in the Raicoast region of Madang Province, have a rich heritage of legends, songs, dances, and rituals associated with sea turtles. These communities have a profound connection with these gentle giants, reflecting their historical ties and traditional practices.
Indigenous lore celebrates the leatherback turtle’s influence, evident in traditions like the Dalal song, which imitates the turtles’ movements during nesting, symbolizing the deep bond between the communities and these majestic creatures. For instance, the Dawang clan of Mur traces its origins to the sacred leatherback turtle, believing they can catch and utilize them as food or currency through sacred rituals. Karkum’s Legend, a captivating tale of transformation, highlights the cultural significance of leatherback turtles by narrating the tale of a woman who morphs into a turtle and embarks on a journey of resilience.
The population of Pacific Leatherback turtles has dramatically declined by over 90% in just two decades, primarily due to industrial fishing, nestling harvesting, water pollution, and plastic accumulation in the ocean.
Additional factors, including chemical use in agriculture, accidental entanglement in fishing gear, and predation by dogs and feral pigs, have contributed to the irreversible decline of other nesting species like green turtles, hawksbill, and loggerhead varieties.
Preservation efforts should focus on safeguarding the areas where leatherbacks nest, forage, and migrate.
Papua New Guinea’s Huon coast, near the industrial city of Lae in Morobe province, along with sporadic sites in Madang and islands such as New Britain and Bougainville, have been identified as critical nesting sites. To prevent leatherback turtles from the brink of extinction, it is crucial to recognize their vital role in the lives and traditions of indigenous communities and work collectively to ensure their conservation.
The Sea Turtles Restoration Project: Wenceslaus Magun, an ardent advocate for environmental protection in the Western Pacific, has dedicated his life to educating Papua New Guineans, particularly in Madang and across the country, about preserving endangered species like the leatherback turtle.
Collaborating with the Turtle Island Restoration Network, Magun has spearheaded the Sea Turtles Restoration Project in Karkum village. This project aims to protect endangered sea turtles, preserve cultural heritage, safeguard marine habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity, restore food sources, stimulate alternative economic opportunities, and promote integral human development.
The primary objective of the Sea Turtles Restoration Project is to create a conducive environment for marine and near-shore resource management plans through the participation of the resource owners.
By empowering indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea, the project aims to preserve their environment, benefitting both the endangered species like leatherback turtles and the people who rely on them for sustenance. Recognizing the importance of preserving cultural practices, the project seeks sustainable solutions that harmonize community needs with environmental protection.
Through the Sea Turtles Restoration Project, Magun and his team strive to raise awareness about preserving endangered species and their habitats while fostering alternative sources of income for local communities.
Group posing with large leatherback turtle. (Picture courtesy of Wenceslaus Magun)
By adopting a holistic approach to conservation, the project aims to create a sustainable future, empowering communities in Papua New Guinea to take charge of their environmental welfare.
To ensure the project’s long-term success, Mr. Magun collaborated with the Turtle Island Restoration Network to establish the local NGO, Mas Kagin Tapani (MAKATA) association, which sustains the Sea Turtle Restoration Project.
On November 17, 2008, three representatives from each of the four clans in Karkum village signed a conservation deed, granting them greater control and power over their resources. The deed preserves customary practices and enables the villagers to become direct custodians and stewards of their resources. This landmark event empowers them to assert their customary rights, respond to threats, assist in land and sea management, identify crucial protection areas, and preserve and safeguard their traditional knowledge.
Protecting the leatherback turtles of Papua New Guinea requires a concerted effort to balance environmental conservation with the cultural significance bestowed upon these majestic creatures. By acknowledging the integral role of leatherback turtles in the lives and traditions of indigenous communities, we can work together to ensure their preservation. Through initiatives like the Sea Turtles Restoration Project and the dedication of advocates like Wenceslaus Magun, Papua New Guineans are striving to create a sustainable future that respects both their cultural heritage and the delicate ecosystems that support these endangered species.
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Reporting for this story was supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network
Prime Minister James Marape met with the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, before attending the state funeral of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
PM Marape was accompanied by International Trade and Investment Minister, Richard Maru and East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird.
“Today was just a short, one-day visit to Japan for me, but very important in consolidating relations between our two countries,”
“There are 191 world leaders here today to attend the State Funeral of the late Shinzo Abe, and for PNG to have been accorded the honour of meeting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida is very special,” the PM said.
The Prime Minister also met with executives of Japan’s major energy companies with discussions centred around the LNG project and downstream processing which the Government is pushing for PNG to be more active in.
“Prime Minister Kishida, during our discussions, highlighted Japan’s need for energy security as well as the need for trade between our two countries to grow.”
Japan through its JX Nippon Oil and Gas Company is a joint venture with Nippon PNG LNG, which has interests in the PNG LNG Project. Since the 1st shipment, PNG has supplied approximately a 7.9million tonnes of liquefied natural gas every year to the world market, and Japan is one country that PNG supplies.
Japan is also involved in other major projects like the K692million Nadzab Airport Redevelopment Project which is currently in its construction phase. The project is captured under Japan’s Economic Corporation program which aims to improve PNG’s economy and broaden internationalization.
“Prime Minister Kishida highlighted the fact that PNG is an important bilateral partner of Japan,” said Marape.
Prime Minister Marape concluded his meeting by assuring the Japanese Prime Minister that outstanding trade treaties between the two countries will resume and PNG will continue to assist Japan where necessary, especially in its energy security needs.
The Prime Minister left for the United States where he will attend the Pacific Islands Summit in Washington DC.
Prime Minister James Marape and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their meeting this morning in Tokyo. Picture by PM’s Department
