Caritas Australia recently hosted ABC journalist Geraldine Doogue on a visit to Papua New Guinea, travelling from Port Moresby to Alotau in the Milne Bay Province to witness firsthand the challenges and opportunities in rural health care.
The visit will inform Geraldine Doogue’s role as MC for two upcoming Women for the World Luncheons in Sydney and Melbourne, with the wider appeal focussed on the role of strengthening rural health services in saving women’s lives.
The visit included tours of two rural health centres operated by Caritas partner, Catholic Church Health Services. These facilities are critical lifelines for communities in Papua New Guinea, where around 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Many remote health centres face significant challenges, including deteriorating infrastructure, and limited access to running water and electricity.
The visit highlighted efforts to upgrade these facilities to improve access to safe, quality maternal health care. Papua New Guinea has among the poorest maternal health outcomes in the Pacific, with many women, particularly those in rural areas, giving birth at home without skilled care. Doing so places them at heightened risk of complications, including life-threatening bleeding.
While in Port Moresby, Caritas Australia, Caritas Papua New Guinea and Catholic Church Health Services also met with the Australian High Commission to strengthen collaboration and reaffirm a shared commitment to locally led development. Discussions highlighted the impact of the Church Partnership Program and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program in supporting resilient communities across Papua New Guinea.
Nicole Chehine Engagement Director at Caritas Australia said: “What we witnessed together in Papua New Guinea powerfully reflects what Women for the World is all about, which is recognising the unique challenges faced by women around the world and working together to support them.”
“We found ourselves struck by the sheer remoteness of these health centres, as well as the lack of basic infrastructure and medical supplies, including pain relief. This reality means the upgrades being delivered through our partnership with Catholic Church Health Services are making a real and measurable difference to women’s lives. We look forward to sharing these stories with our supporters later in the year.”
Caritas Australia’s Women for the World Appeal launches in August 2026, with the October luncheons attended by invite only.
Media contact: Tara Harvey 0484 002 021 tara.harvey@caritas.org.au or caritasmedia@caritas.org.au
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