“This program will enable mothers and children of Papua New Guinea to benefit from the world-class expertise of Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine,” said Neil Duffin, president of ExxonMobil Development Company. “It is our belief that the work done through the program will help ensure improved health for the future generations of the country.”

Program funding supports the deployment of specialist doctors to the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Doctors are providing teaching support with the goal of strengthening the education and training of both current and future health care professionals.

Michael Mizwa, chief operating officer and senior vice president of Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children’s Hospital, said the initiative will continue to build the capacity of the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ medical education and training in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology and public health.

“Ultimately, our hope is that this program will measurably improve the methods and delivery of maternal and children’s health services in Papua New Guinea,” Mizwa said.

Significant progress has been made in the past decade to reduce infant mortality rates in Papua New Guinea. Those rates, however, remain high when compared with other countries in the region.

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