Papua New Guinea has taken an important step to improve the health of mothers and newborns by hosting a national write-shop to finalise tools that will help improve the quality of care during intrapartum and early postpartum that will have positive impact on early essential newborn care.
While 56% of women in PNG receive antenatal care from skilled providers, only 42% of births are attended by trained health workers. The maternal mortality ratio remains high at 171 deaths per 100,000 live births. One of the reasons why many women still choose to give birth at home is due to concerns about the quality of care they receive in health facilities. Improving care during labour and delivery is essential to saving lives and building trust in the health system.
To support this, the National Department of Health, with help from WHO and other partners, developed special tools to help health workers monitor and improve the care they provide. These tools were tested in 2024 at Port Moresby General Hospital, Modilon Hospital, and Buka Hospital. Now, they are being reviewed and improved based on feedback from those sites.
The write-shop brings together doctors, nurses, midwives, government officials, and other key partners to make sure the tools are practical, inclusive, and ready to be used across the country. The goal is to agree on key standards, make the tools easy to use in different types of health facilities, and train health workers on how to use them effectively.
Dr Masahiro Zakoji, Officer-in-Charge of WHO in PNG, highlighted the importance of this work: “Improving the quality of care during childbirth is one of the most effective ways to reduce maternal and newborn deaths. This write-shop is a critical step in ensuring that every woman and newborn in PNG receives safe, respectful, and evidence-based care.”
The final tools will guide health workers in reviewing their services, coaching each other, and using data to make improvements. A national rollout plan is also being developed, with support from regional teams and technical experts.
This initiative is part of PNG’s broader commitment to making sure all mothers and babies receive the care they need—no matter where they live.