PNG NGOs get funding from United States Embassy

Three Papua New Guinea NGO groups have been giving much needed help to extend their work in combating gender violence, HIV/AIDS and cancer among women in the country.

Today a total of K45, 000 was given by the US Embassy under the 3rd round of the Ambassador’s Small Grants Program (ASG), each to the PNG Cancer Foundation, PNG Women Doctors Association and the Laswara Rural Women’s Project in Simbu province.

US Ambassador, Mr. Walter North said by increasing the capacity of community based organizations to effectively work within their local communities to reduce women’s HIV vulnerability and violence against women and girls will also help in reducing associated diseases from violence against them, such as cervical cancer and STIs.

“The US Embassy Port Moresby’s top mission objective is to empower women so that they can play an important role in political and economic life as we are aware women in PNG face routine discrimination, violence and political marginalization,” Ambassador North said.

Ms. Hayley Chown on behalf of the CEO for Cancer Foundation PNG, Mr. Dadi Toka Junior, said this year their focus is on education and awareness and they have set numerous goals to achieve them successfully, and the ASG will enable them to move forward in 2016 and enter secondary schools in Port Moresby to conduct education and awareness programs on cervical cancer to the female students.

Hayley also extended a gratitude to Ambassador North and the US Embassy for giving them the opportunity and confidence to extend their programs.