100% of money received will be used to buy medicines for Wanang Conservation Area's clinic.

Background. Papua New Guinea’s globally important rainforests are being stripped away by multinational logging companies, and medical services are quite remote from much of its population. However, at Wanang (Madang province) an indigenous-led conservation alliance has established a nurse-staffed clinic serving previously medically neglected communities across 500 square kilometres of rainforest. As well as improving community health, this is protecting 15,000 hectares of highly biodiverse rainforest, storing 1.5 million tonnes of carbon.

How you can help. Jo Middleton (Primary Care and Public Health, Brighton and Sussex Medical School) was centrally involved in establishing health services at Wanang in 2020. They are now fundraising to provide ongoing support for the clinic. 100% of money received will be used to buy medicines for Wanang Conservation Area's clinic, which will be delivered by local conservation and research NGO New Guinea Binatang Research Centre.

Above: Medicines previously brought to Wanang Conservation Area by Jo Middleton.

To find out more. See our project website: wildhealth.org.uk/papua-new-guinea or read the articles below:

Middleton, Colthart, Dem, et al. 2023. Health service needs and perspectives of a rainforest conserving community in Papua New Guinea’s Ramu lowlands: a combined clinical and rapid anthropological assessment with parallel treatment of urgent cases. British Medical Journal Open.

Middleton, Cassell, Colthart, et al. 2020. Rationale, experience and ethical considerations underpinning integrated actions to further global goals for health and land biodiversity in Papua New Guinea. Sustainability Science.