Jelta Wong

Grants totalling K24 million will be funded by the PNG-Australia Partnership and will support the PNG Government’s priority to support provincial health authorities in the delivery of primary health services.

The arrangement will see provincial health authorities lead planning processes to ensure that services align with local priorities. 

Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS, Jelta Wong, said the grants will support critical priorities in PNG’s health system. 

In response, Minister Jelta Wong said: "My point in the television interview on Tuesday 4 February, 2020, was not to announce that students living in Mainland China are not important, rather it was to highlight the importance of minimising the risk of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV) from entering PNG borders - and that a mitigation process must be followed.

Minister Wong said Provincial Health Authorities are in place and have powers to investigate claims of malpractice if reported and cited to be genuine.

He outlined that one of the core functions of establishing PHAs across the country is to provide a platform for reports of maladministration and malpractices to be dealt with accordingly.

The allegations can be verified by relevant PHA boards then registered with the Police for investigation.

Wong said in a time when the country is not at war, Prime Minister James Marape is promoting the Defence Force through peace and humanitarian efforts which are beneficial at this time for the Australian bush fire situation.

He said this government, under Prime Minister Marape, is about building bridges and better utilising the Defence Force where it actually matters.

Member for Gazelle and Health Minister, Jelta Wong, revealed this recently during the approval of this year’s development budget at the last District Development Authority board meeting at Kerevat.

The budget is worth K35, 489, 810.

Minister Wong said from the 2020 DSIP, K500,000 each will be allocated to the five LLGs – Central Gazelle, Toma-Vunadidir, Reimber-Livuan, Lassul-Baining and Inland Baining.

Out of that K500,000, 10 percent or K15,000 will be allocated each to administration and president support and 4 percent or K20,000 for project mobilisation.

Speaking at the recent observance of World AIDS Day, Health Minister Jelta Wong said: “The government, in its 2020 budget, has set aside an additional K10 million for HIV/AIDS treatment.”

Wong said the first case of HIV was diagnosed in 1987 in Port Moresby. Seven years later, PNG’s HIV epidemic was described as being generalised when 1 percent of the sexually active population in the country were diagnosed with HIV infection.

He was there to view the progress and reiterate the Papua New Guinea Government’s commitment to the project.

“I am pleased to see the progress of this impressive and significant infrastructure project, which promises to provide high quality health care for communities throughout the Momase Region,” said Minister Wong.

“Once completed, ANGAU will be the major regional referral hospital and a significant national asset for Papua New Guinea for decades to come.”

“The Fire Dance Festival is the first for the people of the Gazelle District geared toward attracting tourist to our district,” the Gazelle MP said.

“The Gazelle district administration is working tirelessly to deliver this event and we are proud to announce we will be hosting the event on October the 18th and 19th 2019.”

The theme for this event is ‘Promoting Responsible Tourism and Agri-tourism’ which will see over 1,000 individual performers taking part in over 55 different and unique cultural performance groups.

Speaking at the declarations of the Central Gazelle, Inland Baining and Lassul Baining LLGs at Kerevat on July 26^th, he reminded the elected Ward Members to refrain from playing politics and fix up the wards first so people can realise delivery of services from the district.

While congratulating the elected Ward Members, he said it will not be an easy run.

He said Ward Members will be voting in their new presidents at the LLG chambers in a few days and further discouraged them from joining camps and promoting corruption.

Wong, in a statement, said Asian expatriates operating supermarkets at Kerevat have obtained gaming licences from the National Gaming Control Board and have decided to open up business at Kerevat town.

The Gazelle MP together with the Gazelle District Administration were not aware of this arrangement.

He said this destructive industry of pokies or gambling houses have social implications and it is detrimental to the progress of the Gazelle district and East New Britain as a whole.