More than 2,500 calls to PNG family violence hotline

Since the service was launched on 20 August, 2015, the top three incidents prompting a call to the hotline were emotional abuse, physical violence and threats of harm. There were 94 reported incidents of child abuse.

Encouragingly, both men and women are using the hotline for confidential counselling and referrals – with half the people seeking help being men (49 per cent).

“Many users of the hotline called because they were concerned about their welfare or the welfare of family members, including children,” said Wesh Siku, ChildFund PNG’s senior project officer for the hotline. “These issues can be tough to talk about but this is why the hotline was developed – to provide a safe, confidential avenue to seek help.

“The trained tele-counsellors use their skills and experience to best respond to the situation of each caller. As well as providing initial support – including information, crisis counselling and safety planning – the tele-counsellors can refer callers to other service providers for further assistance, such as the police, medical and legal services, welfare agencies and safe houses.”

While calls for help have come in from all 22 provinces across PNG, the five provinces that recorded the highest number of calls were Central Province, Southern Highlands, Chimbu, East Sepik and Morobe.

“An awareness-raising campaign was piloted in three provinces, all of which feature in the top five,” said Mr Siku. “The nationwide rollout of this campaign is likely to result in a more even spread of callers from across Papua New Guinea.”

The data also shows that both survivors and perpetrators of violence are using the hotline service. Almost two-thirds of cases (60 per cent) recorded in the first year were survivors needing help for a range of issues relating to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The remaining 40 per cent were perpetrators wanting to change their violent behaviour.

ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence, who recently visited the hotline call centre in Port Moresby, said: “This is a strong start for a service that is still in its infancy. To know that so many people affected by violence are already being supported is extremely encouraging.

“A service like this is a positive step forward to address the extreme rates of violence in PNG, which is devastating families and communities,” Mr Spence added. “Reducing the level of violence in homes and communities is critical for children’s wellbeing, and the future development of the country.”

The 1-Tok Kaunselin Helpim Lain is a partnership between ChildFund Papua New Guinea, CIMC (FSVAC) and FHI 360, supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme, USAID, ChildFund New Zealand and ChildFund Australia.

About 1-TOK KAUNSELIN HELPIM LAIN
The 1-Tok Kaunselin Helpim Lain (715-08000) is a free, confidential phone counselling service providing information and support for anyone in Papua New Guinea experiencing family violence or sexual violence issues. The service is housed in Port Moresby but is available as a free call nationwide. Callers will be assisted by trained phone counsellors who can provide immediate crisis counselling at the time of the call, as well as information and referrals to other support services. The operating hours are between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. Call 715-08000 to access the service.

About ChildFund Australia
ChildFund Australia is an independent and non-religious international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in the developing world. ChildFund Australia is a member of the ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 11 organisations which assists more than 14 million children and families in 63 countries. ChildFund Australia is a registered charity and is fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program. ChildFund began work in Papua New Guinea in 1994, and undertakes child-focused community development programs in the Central Province and National Capital District. ChildFund PNG is the representative office of ChildFund Australia. Visit www.childfund.org.au

Globally, more than 140,000 children die each year and one million become sick from tuberculosis.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – August 23, 2016: Over the past three years, tuberculosis (TB) has killed 9,000 people in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with children accounting for 26 per cent of detected cases, according to a new report released today by ChildFund Australia.

The report, written by award-winning journalist Jo Chandler, uncovers the full impact of the TB epidemic on one of Australia’s closest neighbours, including its youngest victims. With some of the worst human development indicators globally, PNG is struggling to manage one of the highest TB prevalence rates in the world.

Calling for a coordinated and urgent response, the report highlights the extreme disparity between conditions for children and families in PNG versus a developed country like Australia: 50 years ago, TB vanished from the wealthy world, yet today it is killing thousands of children in PNG and leaving others with disabling conditions, including lifelong brain damage.

“Tuberculosis is an entirely preventable and curable disease,” says ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence. “There can be few more challenging and imperative goals in the field of child health than to beat the cruel scourge of tuberculosis.”

Mr Spence adds: “While we continue to urge that leaders find the will, resources and strategies to win the war, ChildFund is equipping communities at the frontline with the means to win their battles, to save lives and livelihoods, and protect children’s futures.”

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT

The report details the extent of the epidemic in PNG, the devastating impact on children and families, and the urgent response needed to end what is a terrible but treatable disease. Key findings include:

• Almost 6.2 million cases – two-thirds of the global TB burden – are estimated to occur in the Asia-Pacific.
  
• In PNG alone, 9,000 people have died from TB over the past three years. By comparison, the Ebola virus, which galvanised such international fear and concern, killed 11,300 people globally in the same period.
• In 2014, TB killed 1.5 million people, including 140,000 children, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Of the 9.6 million people estimated to have fallen ill with the disease in 2014, one million were children.
• Children account for 26 per cent of detected TB cases in PNG but this is likely to be just a fraction of the real story. In PNG there are formidable challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of paediatric cases, and children are particularly susceptible to the most disabling forms of TB, including TB meningitis which can result in lifelong brain damage.
• Australia is well positioned to play a powerful role in tackling this modern plague through its significant research and industry capability. New vaccines and drugs could help countries like PNG with TB control, and ultimately eliminate TB as a public health risk.

Download the full report here.
Help children and communities battling TB in PNG by donating to ChildFund’s appeal: www.childfund.org.au/png

*Names changed to protect privacy