UNFPA’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Bjorn Andersson, concluded a visit to Papua New Guinea on Thursday, after a tour that included meeting Prime Minister James Marape for UN Day and meeting with provincial and district health providers in Eastern Highlands.
Arriving on Sunday, Mr. Andersson was welcomed by performers from the Motu Koita Forum and joined UNFPA team members for a tour of Port Moresby, including the National Museum and Gallery and Parliament House.
UNFPA celebrated UN Day (24 October) alongside fellow UN agencies at Hilton Hotel with a discussion between Prime Minister James Marape and UN Resident Coordinator a.i. Marielle Sander. Mr Andersson met the Prime Minister following the discussion.
Together with members of UNFPA’s sexual and reproductive health team, Mr. Andersson travelled to Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, to learn about the work being done to reduce maternal mortality and to strengthen sexual and reproductive health services for remote communities. He met with Provincial Health Authority CEO Dr. Joseph Apa and his team for a detailed discussion about how the PHA is implementing innovative solutions to public health messaging and community engagement.
The team travelled 45 minutes outside Goroka town to Sigere, where Master Midwifery Trainer Sr Aiva Pikuri introduced Mr. Andersson to community health workers who have been upskilled in emergency obstetric and newborn care through trainings supported by UNFPA in partnership with the National Department of Health.
The visit ended in Port Moresby with an intimate discussion with youth advocates on inclusivity and a future free from violence.
UNFPA’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific covers 22 countries, including Iran, North Korea, and Bangladesh. With very different competing priorities across the region, visits like this help organisational leaders understand the issues affecting Papua New Guinea and identify potential avenues for collaboration between country offices to address common challenges.
UNFPA in the Asia Pacific
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
UNFPA’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific was established in 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand, to provide a key link between UNFPA’s global vision and strategies, and the needs of the region and programme countries.
Our Regional Office in Bangkok provides strategic support and technical expertise to 22 country offices across Asia and our Pacific Subregional Office in Suva, Fiji, supports 14 Pacific island nations
