New Zealand is to help Papua New Guinea to transport medical supplies and personal protective equipment for its Covid-19 response.
The New Zealand Defence Force today deployed an Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft and personnel to PNG, where it will help transport the materials to provinces.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules arrives in Port Moresby, 30 November 2021. Photo: NZDF
The stores have been held in warehouses in Port Moresby but getting the supplies from the capital to provincial areas has been a major challenge for local authorities.
Earlier this month, three NZDF personnel deployed as part of a New Zealand team assisting PNG with its response to the third wave of the pandemic.
They have been providing health planning and logistics support at PNG's National Control Centre in Port Moresby and working closely with local counteprarts.
One of their initial tasks was scoping the inventory of PPE and medical supplies in Port Moresby and working on distribution of these stores to communities.
Air Commodore Shaun Sexton, who heads air operations for the NZDF, said the Hercules would transport supplies to provinces including Manus, Oro, Western, West Sepik and East Sepik over a period of about five to six days.
"There have been limited options for getting these supplies to communities in provincial areas, and we're pleased to be able to assist our Pacific partners in this way," he said.
The group of 31 personnel deployed for this mission included air crew, maintenance and support personnel, and air load teams to manage movement of the cargo.
Buka Hospital, Bougainville Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The NZDF's deploying personnel are vaccinated and undertake a range of measures to prevent transmission of Covid-19 - they are to complete stints in managed isolation on their return to New Zealand.
The New Zealand team that deployed to PNG earlier this month also included two doctors, three nurses, two Fire and Emergency NZ logistics staff and a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade who have been based in Bougainville, supporting the Bougainville Department of Health.
