rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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10.7 International
involvement
New Zealand
The NZAID allocation for Papua New Guinea in
the 2008–09 financial year was NZ$22.5 million.
NZAID has entered into a joint strategy
with the PNG Government to deliver its aid
program for 2008–2018. 619 The program focus
areas are: Health and HIV/AIDS; Education
and Capacity Development; and Rural Livelihoods.
The framework for the response is
gender empowerment and HIV awareness, with
the two strategic outcomes listed as improved
social services in education and health, and
improved livelihood opportunities for rural people.
620 Oxfam New Zealand also has a presence
in PNG working in the relevant areas of peace
building, and conflict and HIV prevention. 621
Other programs
In 2006 the Asian Development Bank provided
technical assistance for a health and demographic
survey supported by the PNG National
Statistics Office. Family Health International is
also a presence in PNG and previously partnered
with the Burnet Institute on the delivery of
the Tingim Laip program. There is significant
involvement of multilateral agencies in PNG
with WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS and the ADB all
present. UNAIDS continues to play a significant
role in collation and analysis of HIV-related
data, but with information on drug injecting
absent from the 2008 update.
10.8 Gaps analysis
When compared to other PICTs, there is
seemingly a greater awareness of the impact
of substance use in Papua New Guinea.
This is specifically the case with respect to
the association between substance use and
domestic and interpersonal violence. However,
the available evidence suggests these
issues are far from recently emerging and are
much more pervasive than in other countries
in the region. Previously the response to illicit
drug and alcohol issues tended toward
local and provincial enforcement approaches.
More recent initiatives have raised the issue
of HIV risk associated with substance use and
have included harm reduction interventions
among high-risk populations. Based on the
persistence of earlier identified trends and
increasing concerns, a more coordinated response
which includes evaluation of earlier
initiatives would be greatly beneficial. While
there is no current national strategy on substance
use issues, this has been flagged as a
future response.
619 New Zealand Agency for International Development & Government of Papua New Guinea,
Country Programme Strategy 2008–2018, July 2008.
620 NZAID, Aid program in Papua New Guinea, available at: accessed (May 2009).
621 Available at: (accessed May 2009).