Marie Stopes PNG

Marie Stopes PNG is hosting a three-day outreach at the Hevea Cup and Wellness Expo from March 5-7 at the National Football Stadium.

The outreach, which is supported by the Australian government through the PNG-Australia Partnership, includes free counselling services on family planning, contraceptive methods and sexually transmitted infection prevention.

Marie Stopes marketing and advocacy coordinator, Cathy Tukne, will be at the expo and plans to draw on her own experiences as a teen mother to educate women and girls on family planning.

The non-government organisation (NGO) has inserted the arm implants since 2011 and says it is becoming popular among women aged 25 to 29.

Effective family planning prevents maternal deaths as pregnancy in PNG places many women at considerable risks.

Marie Stopes PNG believes women, men and adolescents must be informed with the right information to empower them to make informed decisions.

While there are many contraceptive methods in the country, there are numerous misconceptions surrounding the implant and the expected changes a women’s body may experience.

“We walk for days, sleep in the bushes, cross rivers, climb mountains and fight mosquitoes and leeches, so our people in the remote areas of Papua New Guinea can access health services.”

This is the passion of Joseph Mondo who travels across Western Highlands Province to raise awareness about family planning options and methods. A clinician with Marie Stopes PNG, Mondo is proud to be one of few men in this role and says it is rewarding to help save lives.

The new outreach program base, supported by the Oil Search Foundation, is located at Pii Laydown Junction.

“The launch represents a major partnership exercise between MSPNG and the Hela Provincial Health Authority and is focused on supporting the maternal child health care needs in Hela under the Wok Bung Wantaim (WBW) initiative,” said Rodney Ingersoll, Oil Search Foundation’s Hela Provincial Development Manager.

“Lessons learned will be shared widely in a united effort towards improving front line service delivery.”

The theme ‘It’s your life, it’s your responsibility,’ addresses the message to remove these barriers and allow them access to contraception.

Marie Stopes reported that adolescents all too often are told not to engage in sexual activities outside of marriage, hence are denied contraception.

However, Marie Stopes says this does not stop them from engaging in sex; instead increases the chances of unplanned pregnancies, with devastating impacts, not just with future dreams, but death when many make the choice of going through unsafe abortion.

The theme for the day is “Our Voice, Our Choice, Our Future”.

The day is a first-of-its kind festival dedicated to NCD youths to learn how to identify their potential and showcase their talent in a fun-filled day of games, information booths and entertainment.

The SP Hunters will be present with Marie Stopes PNG on the day to talk about the importance and benefits of family planning to young people.

Marie Stopes PNG is the largest non-governmental organization that deals with family planning and reproductive health in the country for almost 10 years.

As of Monday  August 8, all family planning care and reproductive health consultations will be conducted at the new centre in Hohola.

Marie Stopes PNG Country Director Maarten van de Reep says MSPNG has been in operation in for seven years since 2009 at the Boroko centre.

Marie Stopes Country Director, Mr Maarten van de Reep who witnessed the launching for the new team there said the goal of the team is to provide access to family planning to the people in far flung places across the provinces that otherwise would not be able to access these services.

The new team is the latest addition to the Marie Stopes PNG team.

“Family planning is widely considered as one of the most cost effective interventions to improve maternal health and promote sustainable population growth.

To showcase the achievements of this partnership Marie Stopes PNG is hosting an event at the Laguna Hotel on the 23^rd of February.  

Through the Sustainable Population Project, Marie Stopes PNG has provided quality, comprehensive, voluntary Family Planning services to new clients in selected provinces; including NCD, Central, Lae, Madang, Milne Bay, Southern Highlands and Enga.

Expansions of outreach teams have enabled Marie Stopes PNG to provide access to family planning services to numerous previously underserved rural communities.