A nation-wide HIV response was mobilized within Catholic Dioceses across the country. The obvious result was the establishment of the HIV Voluntary Confidential Counseling & Testing (VCCT) facilities which gradually offered care and treatment within the Catholic diocesan networks. The response has been largely financed and supported by the Australian Government’s various aid mechanism and the Global Fund. The current support is implemented through the Sexual & Reproductive Health Integration Project which is schedule to conclude at the end of 2020. This is funded through the PATH (PNG & Australia Transition to Health) platform which is one of the Australian Government’s funding arrangement.

Between 2017 and 2020, the Global Fund supported a provincial led response to tackle TB and HIV. CCHS was the sub-recipient of the grant for five provinces in Madang, Eastern Highlands, Simbu, Southern Highlands and Hela. Major activities within this grant was the recruitment of Provincial TB/HIV Coordinator specific to the life of the project. Ensuring timely collection and delivery of sputum samples, treatment support for MDR TB patients and capacity building from community to health facility level were some of the milestones under the grant.

In partnership with the United Nation’s International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), a pilot program is being implemented in Western province which began in October 2020 and will end in June 2021. The collaboration has led to the training of Village Health Volunteers on basic Infant & Young Feeding practices and support for facilities on the management of Severe Malnutrition.