44-45:Issue 2 20/04/2009 12:23 Page 44
Province of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
P
apua New Guinea (PNG) is a small independent nation
in the south-western Pacific Ocean, just north of
Australia. It includes the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and
hundreds of smaller islands to the east and north.
The central part of Papua New Guinea’s from each other.
main island is high and rugged with jagged Papua New Guinea struggles with HIV/AIDS
mountain peaks separating broad, high and also high illiteracy rates. Jeanette, the
valleys. The majority of the population are Provincial Mothers’ Union worker, has been
subsistence farmers; 85% of the six million doing some research into possible Adult
inhabitants live in rural areas. Literacy programmes and highlights
the need for parenting and
Three-quarters of the island marriage counselling.
is covered with dense Mothers’ Union is
tropical rainforests. managing to get
With few roads, younger women
travel has always involved in its
been extremely activities and is
difficult. This has working hard to
perhaps promote Mothers’
contributed to Union through
the development collaborating
of almost 800 with other
local languages, organisations on
some spoken by issues such as
only a few people. HIV/AIDS awareness,
Nowadays, English, violence against
Pidgin and Motu are the women and women’s
main languages spoken. health problems.
The country is 95% Christian.
In January 2008, Mary Sumner
As the province of PNG is split over House sent relief funds to pay for
hundreds of islands, Mothers’ Union in PNG emergency supplies, after Cyclone Guba hit
relies heavily on collaboration between the region. Mothers’ Union members
workers and the executive council as often distributed rice, salt, clothing, soap and
Diocesan Presidents and workers live far water containers to families in need.
Fact File
Population:6 million Mothers’ Union members: over 20,000. Mothers’ Union was
established in Papua New Guinea in 1949
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