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Papua New Guinea   Why children in Papua New Guinea need your helpPapua New Guinea has a very young population, with considerable problems affecting children and families. High unemployment, poor infrastructure and the sheer inaccessibility of many parts of the country make progress incredibly difficult.
Health, sanitation and nutrition are major issues impacting children in Papua New Guinea, as well as the alarmingly high HIV/AIDS infection rate, with diagnoses increasing by around 30 per cent annually since 1997, and an estimated 60,000 Papua New Guineans living with the disease in 2005. High levels of violence against women, erratic condom use and a lack of access to prevention education are cited as the major causes of the growing epidemic. Children are also at great risk from malaria, with infection rates similar to those experienced in many African countries. Country factsPapua New Guinea consumes the eastern half of the island of New Guinea. The country was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885, and the south transferred to Australia in 1902. Australia occupied the north during World War I and continued to administer the nation until independence was gained in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997, after claiming 20,000 lives. Over the past decade earthquakes, tsunamis (tidal waves), volcanic eruptions, floods, droughts and killer frosts have resulted in a loss of lives, displacement of families, destruction of crops, property and livelihoods and disruption to social services, such as health and education.
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Around 80 per cent of
Papua New Guinea's people live in rural areas with few or no
facilities, and there are around 700 native languages spoken,
making the communication of health advice a huge task.
