AIR NIUGINI & PARTNERS HELP BOUGAINVILLEANS RECEIVE CLEFT SURGERIES
SEVENTEEN people from Bougainville, most of them young children, have received life-changing cleft lip and cleft palate corrective surgeries through a partnership between Air Niugini, the Rotary Club of Boroko and a specialist medical team from Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGH).
The recent surgical outreach mission, conducted at Buka General Hospital last month saw patients, including children, as young as nine months old, undergo cleft lip and cleft palate corrective procedures that will significantly improve their health, speech development, confidence and quality of life.
Air Niugini’s support to the POMGH medical team was instrumental in making the mission possible, helping bring specialist medical services including the medical team and equipment directly to Bougainville and removing the financial and logistical barriers many families face in accessing treatment.
The initiative has delivered renewed hope to 17 patients including thirteen children and their families while reinforcing the importance of collaborative healthcare partnerships in Papua New Guinea.
Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Mr Alan Milne said the airline was happy to support initiatives that provide essential healthcare services to communities across the country, emphasizing the airline’s commitment to health care being a fundamental human right.
“Healthcare is a fundamental human right, and supporting initiatives such as this cleft surgery mission aligns with our commitment to helping connect communities with essential medical services and improving access to specialist care for Papua New Guineans.”
“We are happy to partner with organisations that bring specialist medical services to remote communities that may otherwise have limited access to treatment. Seeing the positive impact these surgeries have on children and their families is truly rewarding, and we look forward to continuing our support for such life-changing health programs in the future.” Mr Milne said
The mission was led by the Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery Unit from Port Moresby General Hospital under the leadership of Head Surgeon Dr Jackson Nuli.
He explained that cleft lip and palate are congenital birth defects resulting from the failure of the upper lip and palate to fuse during embryonic development. These conditions can affect appearance, speech, and overall quality of life. Early surgical intervention, ideally before the age of two, is essential to prevent social stigma, promote personal growth, and support speech development.
However, limited operating theatre capacity at Port Moresby General Hospital and the high cost of travel often prevent many patients from receiving timely treatment.
“For many families, travelling to Port Moresby for treatment can be costly and difficult. By bringing these services to the provinces, we are able to reduce that burden and ensure more children receive the care they need closer to home.”
“I wish to thank everyone for a collaborative effort, Air Niugini, Rotary Club of Boroko, the Autonomous Bougainville Government. Health Department, Arawa Rotary Corps and Buka General Hospital.
The Bougainville outreach marked the medical team’s second specialist surgical mission to the region since 2025, bringing the total number of cleft surgeries performed in Bougainville to 32. The team is scheduled to return in February 2027 to conduct follow-up procedures and provide ongoing care for patients.
Over the last three years and with the support of other international partners including Interplast (Australia), PAN Australia and Rotary Club Boroko, the specialist medical team had also done similar surgeries in Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, East New Britain, Morobe, East and West Sepik Provinces.
Air Niugini remains committed to supporting vital healthcare initiatives that continue to improve and transform the lives of people across Papua New Guinea.
