At ACCESS Health International, we believe access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right. Yet in Papua New Guinea, where nearly 85 percent of the population lives in rural and remote areas, this right is often constrained by geographic isolation and logistical barriers. The country continues to face some of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the Pacific, alongside a heavy burden of infectious diseases – challenges that underscore the urgent need for stronger and more equitable health systems.
In partnership with Sanofi, ACCESS Health has embarked on a new initiative aimed at strengthening integrated healthcare delivery and expanding access to primary care services in the region. The collaboration is designed to address gaps in service provision by working with communities, health facilities, and local stakeholders to improve the availability and quality of essential care.
As part of this effort, the ACCESS Health team carried out an inaugural field visit. The visit included engagements with community leaders and health partners at facilities such as the Anglicare Health Facility and the Paglum Health Centre, a rural provider serving dispersed populations. These conversations offered valuable insights into the realities faced by frontline health workers and patients, ensuring that program design reflects local needs and priorities.
By anchoring the project in community engagement and collaborative partnerships, ACCESS Health aims to build health interventions that are both context-sensitive and sustainable. This initiative marks an important step toward improving maternal and child health outcomes, strengthening the management of infectious diseases, and advancing universal access to primary healthcare in Papua New Guinea.