Community Health

Access to healthcare remains a major challenge for many remote communities in the Gulf Province. Through its Community Health Program, Papua LNG works with local partners to strengthen healthcare services, support medical outreach and improve sanitation and hygiene in the Project Area of Influence.

The program focuses on building the capacity of local health providers and supporting community-level health initiatives. Papua LNG works with several partners, including Gulf Christian Services (Kapuna Rural Hospital), AIDOCEAN, the National Volunteer Service (NVS), Oilmin, International SOS and the SAGO Network, to deliver healthcare services and training across the region. Since 2023, over 34 Community Development infrastructure projects for Health & Education have been completed & inaugurated within the PAoI.

Gulf Christian Services (Kapuna Rural Hospital)

Kapuna Rural Hospital, operated by Gulf Christian Services, is a vital healthcare hub for around 15,000 people in remote Kikori communities. Located on the Wame River and accessible only by boat, it includes four wards, a laboratory and a pharmacy, delivering essential care supported by outreach and community-based treatment close to families. Papua LNG strengthens the hospital’s capacity through targeted health and logistics programs.

Support has enabled three health patrols to remote villages, training for 163 community tuberculosis volunteers, and improved facilities at the Community Health Worker Training School, including new mess and sanitation amenities for 60 trainees. Logistical assistance also supported a national health services assessment, leading to Level 4 accreditation and unlocking additional funding and staffing.

Beyond the hospital, initiatives include a new male dormitory accommodating 130 trainees, regular transport of medical supplies and personnel, and fuel for outreach patrols. Preventive programs such as Days for Girls have produced 285 reusable kits, with 230 distributed. Quarterly patrols across 31 villages have treated 3,657 patients, extending care to some of the most isolated communities.

AIDOCEAN mission along the Purari

Papua LNG also supports international medical outreach missions in partnership with the AIDOCEAN NGO.

During a month-long medical mission in 2024, a team of specialists from AidOcean, Kapuna health workers, and local partners traveled along the Purari, Ivo and Varoi rivers, providing healthcare services to communities in the project area. The mission treated 2,600 patients across 22 communities, delivering essential medical care in areas where access to healthcare services is often limited.

SAGO Network WASH program

Improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is another important part of community health.

Through a partnership with the SAGO Network, Papua LNG is implementing a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Empowerment Program in several communities, including Wabo, Subu 1, Subu 2 and Poroi 2.

The program combines community training, awareness campaigns and local governance structures to improve sanitation and hygiene practices. WASH committees have been established in participating communities to oversee program implementation.

In 2024, the first three modules of the program were completed, focusing on community engagement, training of local facilitators, and hygiene awareness. 28 community members were trained as local facilitators, helping ensure that knowledge and good practices continue to spread within their communities.

Upstream Herd Base Consultations

1,602 men, women and children consulted at the Upstream Logistics Site Gate 2 clinic this year. Of the 676 tests performed, 75% were for malaria. Of the 1,602 patients, 166 were referred to Kapuna and only two were critical cases, who were then transferred to Port Moresby.

Continued support to Kuriva Sub-Health Centre

The ZND initiative has supported St. John Ambulance PNG to provide support in the delivery of health services in the Vanapa-Brown LLG (Kuriva & Brown River areas).

The supported ambulance services attended to 43 medical cases including bites/stings, cardiovascular issues, obstetric/maternal, other trauma, respiratory, toxicology, and general medical cases including referrals.

Opening of the Community Health Worker House in Poroi 2 and Wabo

On April 11, representatives from the Project, alongside Project partners and Gulf Provincial Government representatives, were present to celebrate the opening of the Community Health Worker’s house at Poroi 2, for Volunteer Community Health worker Karen Rove. A Community Agreement was signed between the Chairman of the Poroi 2 Health Committee and the Project, to hand over the CHW house to the community. Providing a house to the CHW is a way to encourage and retain the presence of CHWs in rural communities.

Deployment of Water Tanks

In Kaevaria village, Kikori District, Papua LNG strengthened community well-being through improved access to water and communication. Three 3,500-litre water tanks and a solar-powered community radio system were inaugurated in February 2024, supporting safer drinking water and better connectivity. The initiative responds to local needs identified through ongoing dialogue and marks the first rollout across eight villages along the barging route, with further deployments underway.