Health Minister Welcomes Children and Youth Wellbeing Report

Health Minister Dr. Billy Joseph has welcomed the tabling of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Children and Youth Wellbeing report, describing its findings as a wake-up call for the country's health sector.

Dr. Joseph commended Committee Chairman Powes Parkop and members of the committee for their extensive work in bringing critical issues affecting children and young people before Parliament.

The report highlights several pressing challenges within the health sector, including low childhood immunisation rates, high levels of chronic malnutrition, shortages of frontline health workers, poor birth registration, and unequal access to essential healthcare services.

Among the report's most concerning findings is that only 48% of Papua New Guinea's children receive full routine immunisation, with some Provincial Health Authorities recording coverage of less than 30 per cent.

"These statistics are deeply concerning and should serve as a wake-up call for all of us," Dr. Joseph said.

"Every child deserves protection from vaccine-preventable diseases, regardless of where they are born or live."

Dr. Joseph said the findings underscored the need for a comprehensive review of the national immunisation programme and the performance of Provincial Health Authorities.

He said he would work closely with the National Department of Health and Provincial Health Authorities to identify the causes of poor performance and implement practical reforms to improve immunisation coverage and health outcomes nationwide.

The Minister also expressed concern over the report's finding that 48.2 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted due to chronic malnutrition, saying it reinforced the need for stronger collaboration across government to improve child nutrition and early childhood development.

He said the report provides valuable evidence to guide policy decisions and strengthen accountability within the health sector.

"As Minister for Health, I am committed to ensuring that the Ministry of Health, the National Department of Health, Provincial Health Authorities and our health institutions focus on delivering measurable improvements in health outcomes," Dr. Joseph said.

"Our success must be measured not by the number of policies we produce, but by healthier children, stronger immunisation coverage, safer mothers, improved birth registration and equitable access to quality healthcare throughout Papua New Guinea."

Dr. Joseph reiterated his appreciation to Chairman Powes Parkop and members of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Children and Youth Wellbeing for their contribution to national policy and said he looked forward to working with all stakeholders to implement the report's health-related recommendations.