The fight against tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea has received a boost with funding from the World Bank and Australia.
According to the World Health Organisation PNG has 31,000 new cases of tuberculosis each year and more than 3,000 deaths.
It said PNG's health-care system had struggled to cope with the epidemic.
Drug-resistant TB is also of particular concern for PNG.
The World Bank this week approved a $US15 million loan to support PNG's efforts to combat the growing epidemic and Australia will be matching this with a grant of its own.
PNG's health minister Michael Malabag welcomed the support saying it would be crucial for his ministry's efforts to develop a coordinated approach to TB.
