Millennium Development Goals

Providing a labour ward, in-patient, out-patient services, consultation rooms, family planning services and antenatal clinic, the Trolga Health Centre will provide health services to approximately 15,000 people in the entire community as well as eight surrounding wards.   

The opening ceremony, held in Trolga on February 27, celebrated the handing over of ownership of the health centre to the Western Highlands Provincial Health Department.

They will replace the 8 Millennium Development Goals, which have been place since 2000, after first being mooted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

World leaders, heads of global financial institutions and other dignitaries have been converging on New York, where the UN is set to launch the new goals framework with its stated aim to end poverty and build a life of dignity for all.

Joining them will be Pope Francis, who is due to address the UN General Assembly during a visit timed for the global gathering.

The comments were made at an Australian senate inquiry into Canberra's aid programme in PNG.

The PNG country program director, Curt von Boguslawski, says the rate of stunting in babies, caused by malnutrition which hampers the development of the brain, is at nearly 50 per cent, one of the highest rates in the world.

He says the under-five mortality rate is 61 in every 1000 live births, and one in every 120 expecting mothers will die during childbirth.

He further said it enabled more girls to go to school than ever before, and brought unprecedented results in fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

In the final report on the Millennium Development Goals released Monday, the U.N. chief said the global mobilization to implement the goals has produced "the most successful anti-poverty movement in history."