Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

Anglicare’s Begabari clinic opens new chapter with NCD Health

Anglicare’s Begabari clinic will now be part of the National Capital District (NCD) Health Services Division.

This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement by Health Secretary Pascoe Kase, Archbishop of Anglican Church Allan Migi and NCD Health Acting Health Advisor Dr Jerry Tanumei on October 18 to transition funding responsibility for the clinic to NCD Health.

The Australian Government has been working with Anglicare over the past year to prepare the clinic for handover to the Government of Papua New Guinea, and will provide ongoing support as the clinic transitions to NCD Health.

The facility has previously been supported by the Australian Government to provide HIV services, and going forward will provide a broad range of health services to the rapidly growing population in Waigani, Tokarara, Morata, and nearby areas.

This handover is timely and supports the National Department of Health and NCD Health’s plan to expand primary health care services. Australian High Commission’s Counsellor Will Robinson commended the National Department of Health and NCD Health on taking this step to expand health services to cater for the growing population served by the Begabari facility.

Anglicare was established to deliver HIV services in NCD and other provinces. The Australian Government has been a key partner to Anglicare since 2001 providing infrastructure and programmatic funding. This includes more than PNGK30 million to support HIV education, counselling, testing, and clinical management of antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV.

The Australian Government continues to provide support to Anglicare and Catholic Church Health Services to deliver critical HIV services nationwide. Australia will support similar handovers of integrated health clinics to the PNG Government once Provincial Health Authorities are ready to take on funding responsibility.  

For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100

Australian High Commission Counsellor Will Robinson, signs as a witness on MOA between, Anglicare, NDoH, and NCD Health as Bradley Gideon-Acting Secretary for Anglican Health Services, and Dr Jerry Tanumei-Acting Health Advisor NCD Health looks on.

(From R-L): Kapilin Ekeram-NDoH Acting Advisor for Partnerships, Counsellor Will Robinson-Australian High Commission, Heni Meke-National Director Anglicare, Arch Bishop Allan Migi-Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, Bradley Gideon-Acting Secretary for Anglican Health Services, Dr Jerry Tanumei-Acting Health Advisor NCD Health, Francis Posi-NDoH Legal and Governance Manager