The reoccurring theme in bridging various social gaps remains to be sensitisation for young people.

For Papua New Guinea, issues ranging from gender relations to health have worsened over the years, making them a norm for the people.

While the PNG government buckles down for the APEC summit, polio has emerged, tuberculosis persists due to multidrug resistance, and violations of human rights are ever-present as in cases like that of the Paga Hill villagers struggle.

Papus New Guinea’s progress may seem obscure. However, this should not overshadow the mobilisation of young Papua New Guineans at the community level.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), around 60 percent of young people under 25 account for PNG’s population 8.5 million.

The disproportionate percentage of young Papua New Guineans calls for more engaging avenues that will translate into overall development at community levels.

Executive director of UNFPA Dr Natalia Kanem says the investment in young people’s capabilities, as well as creating opportunities for them, will build peaceful, cohesive and resilient societies.

Cultural settings
Equally important, these opportunities require sustainability so that they are also contextually relevant to PNG’s diverse cultural settings.

As the PNG government focuses on “unlocking” its economic potential, the mobilisation of youth largely rests with non-governmental and faith-based organisations such as The Voice Inc., Equal Playing Field, Youth Against Corruption Association – to name a few.

Last month, PNG’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato told the United Nations General Assembly that the “government recognises the importance of putting in place the building blocks needed to enable inclusive and participatory development.”

He added that it was their priority to create employment opportunities that would match the needs of Papua New Guinean youth.

Concrete action in this area, however, remain bleak, particularly in light of 500 procured APEC-vehicles, outbreak of preventable diseases and drug shortages in hospitals around PNG.

As such, the work of various organisations to equip youth in shaping civic affairs is paramount.

Education at the grassroots level, along with platforms to communicate the acquired information, provide a bridging factor for youth to spread “sensitisation” during a time when governance is questionable.

Changing mindsets
This can be seen in movements such as the newly homegrown project SKILLZ PNG.

Last month, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) PNG in partnership with adolescent health organisation Grassroots Soccer, launched SKILLZ.

The project uses soccer as a vehicle for at-risk youth “to overcome their greatest health challenges… and be agents for change in their communities”.

Grassroots Soccer Master trainer Nicole Banister says the project gives participants the platform to express themselves.

“It was incredible for me to see how some of the shyer participants really blossom throughout the training. They really found their voice in terms of facilitating, working with their peers, praise openly and build personal connections across organisations, different sexes, different ages and cultures – all of which are important to build a community in PNG.”

For a country like PNG, SKILLZ offers a continuum of care for youth to combat prevalent issues such as gender-based violence.

In addition, it provides a conducive environment for youth to develop a better understanding of PNG’s health system and their own health needs.

Training of coaches
Over a period of two weeks, 20 youth participants from varying backgrounds underwent SKILLZ PNG’s “training of coaches” workshop.

To an outsider, this workshop may seem just any other ordinary event.

It is, in fact, a necessary movement for young Papua New Guineans especially when high levels of violence can provide a sense of “disillusionment”,  as stated by The Voice Inc.’s chairperson, Serena Sumanop.

For Joshua Ganeki, a 27-year-old participant, SKILLZ PNG gave him a chance to do something purposeful.

Having graduated from Port Moresby Business College in 2014, he found it difficult to secure employment and thus resorted to doing odd jobs, and then eventually volunteering with YWCA.

His passion for helping young people led him to SKILLZ PNG and prompted a self-reflection on gender expectations.

Rights, responsibilities
“One thing I learnt is our society has gender expectations, especially for women and that is wrong. We need to break these norms and become equal team players and partners in life.

“SKILLZ PNG is trying to make us more aware of our rights, responsibilities as men and women.”

For others such as 21-year-old Kevlyne Yosia, the training strengthened her confidence in being an agent of change.

“Back in year 11, my class was having a discussion on politics and a male classmate told me that my place was in the kitchen so I have no place talking about such things. It made me feel bad because I knew other women are told the same thing.

“But it also made me stand my ground that I have a right to voice my opinion, and so do other women,” said Yosia.

She added that the training enabled herself and others to realise that support and appreciation for genders is essential in fostering healthy relationships.

Development goals
While projects such as SKILLZ PNG are vital, so are their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

For YWCA PNG, its work with Grassroots Soccer has empowered more youth to be SDG champions in a political climate that is self-serving.

SKILLZ PNG’s coverage of goals such as “good health and wellbeing”, “gender equality” and “partnership for goals” means that more young people will feel empowered and equipped to participate in civic engagements.

Although this project has seen only one group graduate onto becoming coaches in their communities, Grassroots Soccer master trainer Alex Bozwa said: “I’m incredibly optimistic for the work that these people will be doing with other young people.”

SKILLZ PNG is currently limited to the capital of Port Moresby but it is a positive step towards leveraging Grassroots Soccer’s large success in the African continent, so that youth on a national level can also participate.

In the meantime, hope remains in young people like Kevlyne Yosia.

“I want to see a better PNG, where I can feel safe as a woman.”

Pauline Mago-King is a masters student based at Auckland University of Technology and is researching gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea. She compiled this report for the Pacific Media Centre’s Asia-Pacific Journalism Studies course.

Twitter: @iamatalau04

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

By Erwin Encinares in Saipan

Palau President Tommy Remengesau says Pacific people of Micronesian descent are “dying slowly” because of dietary imbalances on the islands when commenting on a health presentation at the 23rd Micronesia Islands Forum this week.

“Dying a suicidal death that is self-inflicted,” he said.

“It’s sad, but the population around the world are dying because of hunger and poverty – but here in our part of the world we are dying of overeating and bad diet and a lot of this has to do with imported food.”

READ MORE: Micronesian states could work together on labour shortages

Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation chief executive officer Esther Muña identified in a presentation the leading causes of deaths in Micronesia – cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and lung disease.

Remengesau said: “Analysing data, specifically in Palau, unemployed fishermen are in better health than those who are in the government and in the private sector who can afford to buy all these … foods.

-Partners-

“It is certainly a lifestyle.”

Muña called for the forum to pass a resolution that enhanced “telehealth” capabilities in the Pacific.

Telehealth-friendly priority
“Endorse in principle as a matter of regional priority, and to invest jurisdiction resources to enhance and expand telehealth/telemedicine capabilities and capacities appropriate to the needs of each jurisdiction; and support periodic assessments and evaluations of such efforts in terms of cost, sustainable financing, pass policy and legislation which creates a telehealth-friendly environment, and ensure relevant provider/partner coordination,” Muña said in her presentation.

“We are dying slowly.”

The vision and capabilities of enhanced telehealth and telemedicine as an ideal setup for Micronesia was the focus of the second day of the forum.

The forum’s Regional Health Committee touted the benefits of telehealth and telemedicine, citing the concept adopted in some Micronesian islands such as Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Guam.

The committee stressed that an enhanced telehealth and telemedicine capability was ideal for Micronesia, but some governmental policies interfered with telehealth capabilities, limiting its effects in other areas.

Telehealth is the process of using technological advancements in communication to deliver medical services.

Pohnpei Hospital, for example, coordinates with the Hokkaido Cancer Center in Japan for diagnostic information.

Digitised images are sent to the center for diagnosis. Guam Community Health Center, on the other hand, works with the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles.

Sustainability an issue
However, in an interview after her presentation, Muña said that telehealth issues were concerning.

“It’s not the technology; we already have fiber optic [cables],” she said. “The issue is that we are trying to know that there are layers of policies that are preventing providers from providing those telehealth services.”

According to Muña, sustainability was an issue with telehealth.

According to Muña’s presentation, in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) alone, the body-mass index of youths since the year 2000 baseline had gone up in 2017.

Cancer and cardiovascular-related deaths have also risen in the 30-69 age groups, while lung-related deaths have gone down significantly.

Tobacco usage in both forms—chewing and smoking—have also reportedly decreased since the year 2000 baseline. Similar results have been noted for alcohol use among the youth.

Erwin Encinares is a reporter on the Saipan Tribune who has been covering the 23rd Micronesian island Forum.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz