Foundation helping implement health plan

THE Santos-funded Oil Search Foundation will support the Health Department to implement the national health plan, executive director Stephanie Copus-Campbell says.
Campbell, who is also chairman of the Southern Highlands health authority, said this when signing the partnership agreement on how the foundation would support implementation of the plan with Health secretary Dr Osborne Liko last week.
The theme of the plan is “Leaving no-one behind and building effective multi-sector partnerships” and is a key crosscutting theme in the plan to improve health indicators across the country.
In Port Moresby, the OSF assists partners, including the Health Department with planning, coordination and technical advice.
At the provincial level, it works closely with provincial health authorities in Hela, Southern Highlands and Gulf in providing direct assistance to district health facilities and communities.
Campbell said the foundation supported the health plan by working at all levels of Government and community to help strengthen health systems, including Governance support, supporting improved financial and administrative functions, planning, monitoring and evaluation.
She said currently at the national level Oil Search Foundation was supporting improved Coronavirus (Covid-19) responses through providing essential logistics, partner coordination and performance monitoring support to improve the flow of medical supplies and the uptake of vaccines.
At the provincial level, she pointed to major achievements in health outcomes in the three provinces the foundation supports.