Preparations to bring the Supporting Triple Elimination in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste (STEPT) project to Madang Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) have begun with the establishment of a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
On 28 July 2026, the MoU was signed between ASHM, the Catholic Church Health Service Archdiocese of Madang and the Madang Provincial Health Authority. The agreement formalises the collaborative partnership between all organisations, bringing STEPT’s support of triple elimination to Madang Province.
‘Triple elimination’ refers to the goal of preventing parent-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. Through partnerships with local Ministries/Departments of Health, in-country healthcare organisations Maluk Timor and Catholic Church Health Services, STEPT supports the strengthening of triple elimination services with a focus on building sustainable, person-centred healthcare systems across PNG and Timor Leste. This is achieved through the development and delivery of health worker training and on-site clinical mentoring, improving data collection and reporting, supporting supply management, and strengthening antenatal testing and treatment pathways.
The decision to expand STEPT to Madang was informed by evidence of unmet need in the province, particularly low rates of HIV and syphilis testing among women attending their first antenatal care visit, alongside a demonstrated commitment from Madang Provincial Health Authority leadership to strengthen service delivery and address these gaps.
The signing comes after an inception workshop held on 19 June 2026, which brought together 44 participants from across the provincial health system to co-design STEPT’s scale-up to Madang Province.
The inception workshop commenced with opening remarks by workshop co-convenors the PNG National Department of Health, Madang Provincial Health Authority, and long-time in-country partner Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS). Speakers included Dr Martin Daimen (CEO, Madang Provincial Health Authority), Dr Nano Gideon (National HIV Program Manager, National Department of Health) and Dr John Milan (Sexual Health Consultant, CCHS), who highlighted a shared commitment to strengthening partnerships, improving service integration, and enhancing data quality as key enablers of progress towards triple elimination and the goals of the PNG National Health Plan.
Workshop participants — which included midwives, laboratory technicians, family health coordinators, and clinicians — brought their insights and experience to build a shared understanding of the current status of triple elimination services, identify priority areas for improvement, and agree on the strategic direction for the first year of STEPT support.
The planned expansion of STEPT to Madang Province builds upon STEPT’s success in Milne Bay Province, PNG and Formosa Community Health Centre in Dili, Timor Leste. As reported in the STEPT Midterm Review 2025, the project has helped expand the network of trained providers, improve access to testing and treatment, and strengthen conversations around stigma, discrimination and quality care.
As preparation towards launching STEPT in Madang continues, ASHM looks forward to working with the PNG National Department of Health, Madang Provincial Health Authority, and Catholic Church Health Services to strengthen local healthcare systems and, ultimately, improve health outcomes and support for mothers and babies.
STEPT is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and ASHM Members.
