Australia continues to provide medical support to Papua New Guinea for the fight against Covid-19.
PNG's biggest urban centres and numerous provinces are grappling with the third wave of the pandemic, which has overwhelmed health systems.
Australia has dispatched another Medical Assistance Team to PNG, the sixth such deployment to assist its neighbour since the pandemic began.
The Australian Defence Force has been providing logistical support to PNG in its Covid-19 response, flying in medical teams and emergency supplies. Photo: Australian High Commission in PNG
A further 14 Australian Defence Force personnel have also been sent to help PNG with pandemic response logistics including aviation lift support to deliver emergency supplies.
Last month, Australia has also provided 240 oxygen concentrators to support the care of critically ill patients and delivered 70,000 vaccine doses to PNG.
This brings the total AstraZeneca vaccine doses delivered to PNG to 144,970.
A ministerial statement from Australia said it had "worked closely with the COVAX facility, New Zealand and United States partners to deliver more than 770,000 vaccine doses" to PNG.
The Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Zed Seselja, said Australia was partnering closely with the PNG government and its Provincial Health Authorities on vaccine delivery and distribution, including in the Torres Strait Treaty Villages.
AUSMAT medical team deploys to Papua New Guinea along with ADF personnel, all helping in PNG's Covid-19 response. Photo: Australian High Commission in PNG
"These measures build on over AU$340 million in assistance Australia has provided for the PNG Government's national COVID-19 response since the start of the pandemic."
Last week, a British emergency medical assistance team arrived in PNG's Western Highlands province to support local health workers cope with a surge in COVID cases.
