PNG church partners respond to COVID-19

Reliable information and frequent and proper hand hygiene are two of the most important measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Seemingly simple measures, they are not equally available to everyone. 

Above: Handwashing stations installed by UCPNG in Milne Bay include a step to ensure children can better reach the taps, soap and posters explaining proper hand washing techniques. Image: Stella Vika/UCPNG

AHP’s Disaster READY program is supporting the delivery of Australia’s humanitarian response to COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea. Working and aligning with the Government of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea’s churches are playing an important role in reaching communities with critical information and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support.

Coordinated by CAN DO, PNG churches (UCPNG, ADRA PNG and Anglicare PNG) will deliver important COVID-19 health risk information and WASH interventions to 38,883 people across five provinces. The churches will also train community mobilisers and volunteers so that they can continue to drive community engagement activities in close coordination with local authorities and community groups.

The overall aim is to ensure communities understand the COVID-19 risk and the importance of frequent and proper handwashing, and to ensure they have access to clean water to be able to do this. For example, in Milne Bay Province, UCPNG is running COVID-19 awareness campaigns in 17 communities across Alotau Urban and East Cape to drive behaviour change and install handwashing stations in community facilities, with a focus on schools, health centres and churches. 

The work in Milne Bay, which will be replicated in other provinces, involved a WASH needs assessment which informed decisions around where to best place the handwashing stations. Accessibility considerations also informed this process, and the handwashing stations include a step to allow children to more easily reach the basin. Soap was also provided, and posters explaining correct handwashing techniques displayed. 

These activities formed part of the initial COVID-19 response activities delivered through Disaster READY PNG between April and June 2020 and will be built upon and expanded as part of a larger PNG COVID-19 response to be delivered through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership.