11:00 AM


BY YOMBI KEP

The new Health Security Initiative announced earlier this month by Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop was first implemented by the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security in Daru where they are responding and treating Tuberculosis (TB).

“First visit under new initiative to close friend and partner PNG, great progress on TB in Daru” said Australia Ambasador for Regional Health Security Blair Exell.

The Centre brings together expertise from relevant Australian Government agencies and is advised by a distinguished Technical Reference Group and also experts from the Indo-Pacific region to advice on specific issues.

“As ambassador for regional Health Security I’m proud to lead this initiative,” said Mr Excell.

Health security threats are emerging at an unprecedented rate. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Zika underscore the need for improvements in a country’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to epidemics in humans and animals. These events have also highlighted that to control infectious disease; there must be functioning health systems and effective regional cooperation.