Project for GBV survivors launched

**Dignitaries during launching of Zonta International supported project in Milne Bay on Wednesday. – Picture courtesy of UNFPA**

A TWO-YEAR project to strengthen the national health sector to respond to gender-based violence (GBV) survivors in Papua New Guinea has been launched. The project was realised with financial support from Zonta International, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) PNG country office in coordination with the Milne Bay health authority. Launched at the Alotau Provincial Hospital on Wednesday, the project aimed at providing quality essential services, including long-term recovery for women and girls who were GBV survivors. Zonta committed US$1 million (K3.5 million) to UNFPA for the project across Papua New Guiena and Timor-Leste, the two countries with the highest life-time prevalence of intimate partner violence. UNFPA said in a statement that the project was expected to directly benefit more than 150,000 people in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and Milne Bay. Milne Bay will receive about K700,000 to strengthen its response to GBV through specialised health services.