PNGIMR meets to the country’s need of data for development

The Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) can provide data for the country to use for effective planning for development.

This follows a series of successful outcomes from a health demography study carried out by the Institute where the study was able to identify and report health along with other development indicators.
The integrated Health and Demography Surveillance System (iHDSS) study is being carried out by the Institute’s Partnership in Health Project (PiHP) through funding from ExxonMobil.
“Through this study, we were able to collect data tracking 33 out of the total 60 indicators of the Millennium Development Goals such as children under five years and infant mortality rates .” said Dr Bang Pham, Head of the Population Health and Demography Unit and Scientific Coordinator of the PiHP.

The iHDSS study is carried out in four areas in PNG - Hiri-West in the Central province, Hides in the Hela province, Asaro in the Eastern Highlands and Karkar Island in Madang province and aims to study the health, social and economical impacts of the PNG Liquefied Natural Gas (PNGLNG) Project.

"iHDSS is in its piloting phase and is approaching its completion therefore the Institute is looking for new partnerships to help upgrade the iHDSS into a new system of surveillance - the Comprehensive Health and Epidemiologic Surveillance System (CHESS)" said Professor Peter Siba, Director of IMR.

The CHESS will continue to provide reliable and up-to-date data, which are essential for the planning, policy development and resource allocation of healthcare programs and interventions at the national and sub-national levels.
More importantly it will contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in Papua New Guinea.
The potential benefits of the CHESS are not only limited to the health sector but can also be used by other Government departments for social planning, labour and employment, and education.
Reforming national data collection systems has been one of the country’s top priorities in the PNG Vision 2050. CHESS is an option that needs to be considered by the PNG Government.