Association revives ops to address issues

THE Papua New Guinea Family Health Association (PNGFHA) has revived its operations in East New Britain to help address issues affecting the people.
“We will need to have a good working relationship with the governments and other stakeholders to advocate health-related issues afflicting communities,” association executive director Michael Selani said yesterday.
“We are focusing on issues of sexual reproductive health, family planning, gender-based violence and other issues affecting communities.
“We have a health clinic in Kokopo that is providing sexual reproductive health services and also a youth centre that is specifically for the young to access information on various issues that they face.
“We believe our youths need a safe space to access safe information and services but we are facing challenges and cultural barriers.
“We are trying to work with community leaders, institutions and the government to try to convince them that the issues need to be transparent and be discussed openly at community, district and the provincial levels.
“Only then the people can access the information and the services that they need.
“We also want to work with stakeholders, such as police so that we can convince leaders and the people that we care for their welfare.”
Selani said the range of issues affecting communities in East New Britain were unwanted pregnancies, peer pressure, family problems, rape and incest and many others that needed immediate attention.