British High Commissioner Ms Anne Macro visiting a poultry farm.
The Fleming Fund Country Grant, led by Burnet Institute and funded by Britain’s UK aid program, is making significant progress in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
AMR is a major global health threat. It emerges when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist medications due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics and antimicrobials.
Globally, AMR contributes billions of dollars in medical costs and thousands of deaths each year. In PNG alone, an estimated 8,900 deaths in 2019 were linked to AMR.
Since 2020, Burnet Institute has partnered with PNG stakeholders to develop systems that monitor AMR, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial consumption.
Strategic investments in laboratory infrastructure, workforce training, and data systems through the Fleming Fund have laid the foundation for routine bacteriology testing and improved diagnostic capabilities across PNG’s key provinces.
Now in Phase Two of Papua New Guinea’s national response to AMR, this next stage builds upon existing achievements while expanding the country’s approach to a truly One Health strategy — integrating human, animal, and environmental health. For the first time, sectors like environment and aquaculture are being included in AMR surveillance, enhancing collaboration across areas that typically operate in isolation.
Paula Pupune, the Fleming Fund’s One Health theme lead, said strong surveillance systems and collaboration across agencies are vital to mitigate AMR risks.
“Laboratory capacity building is key to early detection and promoting responsible antimicrobial use, all with the ultimate goal of sustainability and country ownership,” she said.
The current phase focuses on generating high-quality data about antimicrobial resistance and use, improving the analysis of this data to better understand emerging trends, sharing insights with decision-makers to guide effective policy and practice, and encouraging long-term investment to reduce AMR risks over time.
So far, Phase Two of the program has achieved 98 percent of its deliverable milestones. Four sites have signed data-sharing agreements, more than 600 professionals have been trained in AMR-related skills, and seven sites have developed essential equipment maintenance plans to ensure sustainability.
In a major step forward, the program has also expanded to include AMR surveillance in PNG’s private farming sector.
In May, the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA) conducted sampling training at Zenag and Tablebirds, PNG’s largest commercial poultry producers.
During a site visit to a pre-selected poultry farm, British High Commissioner Ms Anne Macro observed field officers collecting specimens for AMR surveillance in healthy poultry. These samples are then sent to Port Moresby for laboratory analysis.
The project’s first phase, which ran for three years, established critical governance structures and supported essential surveillance systems. It included the refurbishment of two human health and one animal health microbiology laboratories, the training of laboratory staff across six sites to ensure national consistency, and the establishment of weekly clinical case conferences to support ongoing lab development.
An AMR secretariat was also formed, alongside technical working groups for both the animal and human health sectors. These structures have helped generate valuable data to inform national policy and improve clinical decision-making at the hospital level.
One of the program’s most important achievements was supporting the development of PNG’s first National Antibiotic Guidelines. PNG also became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to submit human health AMR data to the World Health Organization’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS).
The Fleming Fund has also played a pivotal role in advancing policy dialogue on sustainable financing and data governance. Through detailed economic and cost-benefit analyses, it improved multisectoral coordination and bolstered government commitment to addressing AMR. This growing momentum is reflected in the choice of One Health as the theme for the 2025 PNG Medical Symposium, where AMR and the work of the Fleming Fund Country Grant will be prominently featured.
The bacteriology laboratory at the National Animal Health and Food Testing Laboratory now operates as PNG’s reference lab for AMR in animal health. It plays a crucial role in culturing animal samples and testing for resistant pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella.
Professor Robert Power, FFCG (PNG) program director, said active surveillance and cross-sector coordination were crucial for detecting and containing AMR.
“More people in PNG die from AMR-related issues than from chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, kidney diseases, maternal or neonatal issues,” he said.
“Our combined efforts will continue to strengthen PNG’s global response to this urgent health threat.
“With ongoing support from the Fleming Fund, PNG is now well positioned to independently sustain and expand its AMR surveillance efforts as part of a broader commitment to public health and national development.”