World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Smoking Cessation and Treatment of Tobacco Dependence
Best Practices of Smoking Cessation in the Western Pacific Region
Questionnaire
1. Country / Region
Papua New Guinea
Programme background
2. Name of Programme / Service
NCD program (WHO)
3. Objective(s) of the programme / service (e.g. triggering quit attempt, promoting new activity, provision of cessation services)
Upscale of NCD best buy package at subnational level
4. Duration / time period of the programme / service
Time bound to the Biennium Plan for PNG Country Office 2024-2025
5. Target population
Population based Interventions and targeted population cohort – Schools
Programme details
6. Please briefly describe the activity(-ies) carried out under the programme / service (e.g. provision of smoking cessation services, campaign to promote/enhance cessation services provision).
1. General Awareness and Advocacy on WNTD every year Ministerial Invite to give a speech to PNG citizens – theme by year
2. Tobacco Regulation Draft awaiting parliament gazettal for enactment
7. What were the factors that contributed to the programme / service establishment?
WHO technical support to Ministry of Health
8. Did the programme / service involve other organisation(s) (e.g. non-governmental organisation, professional association, academia)? What were their roles?
We have established PPP and non-traditional health actors in the likes of:-
- PNG cancer Foundation – role in health promotional awareness and advocacy messaging
- UPNG – academia local research options and health promotional messages and advocacy
- Private sector – Health promotional and awareness messages and advocacy
- Government agencies such as Narcotic Bureau, Customs, NAQIA, Finance Dept, Education Dept – Law enforcement /compliance/legislation
9. Please briefly describe the resource implications for this programme / service:
| a) | How was/were necessary funding and/or manpower secured? |
|---|---|
| NCD has limited funding to fully implement important elements of the program such as Tobacco Control and regulation/law enforcement and M&E surveillance | |
| b) | Please briefly describe any use of information technology to implement or facilitate the programme / service |
| None at present except the e-NHIS that has not incorporated indicators evaluating of tobacco control and prevention | |
| c) | Any other special resource required to implement the programme / service? |
| Fund raising and philanthropic support, eg. Cancer program |
10. COVID-19
| a) | Please briefly describe any difficulties encountered during the programme / service implementation amid COVID-19. |
|---|---|
| Many essential services were curtailed under the Act public mobility was restricted during that time. Many clients with chronic lung disease and other respiratory illnesses were seen and triaged along with COVID positive patients and managed accordingly | |
| b) | How did you overcome them? |
| Not well, as many lives were lost/reported Mortality |
Programme evaluation
11. Was there any evaluation of the programme / service (e.g. quantitative survey, qualitative interview, etc.) conducted?
National Surveys due: GYTS, STEPS, GATS
12. What was the impact of the programme / services (e.g. number of smokers who quit)?
We currently lack the capacity to systematically collect and analyze such data.
13. How would the evaluation results be used (e.g. improving policy / programmes)?
If evaluation results are available, they can help us identify which provinces to prioritize for NCD and tobacco prevention—making the most of our limited national funding.