US Embassy is one of the foreign missions in Papua New Guinea that actively participates in priority issues concerning PNGs development.
One of the main priority areas is the health sector in PNG.
Dr Abel Yamba works with the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His area of focus is Strategic Information; Disease Surveillance and Response, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Data Processes.
Working as a public health specialist, Dr. Yamba emphasised on the fact that Papua New Guineans are missing the quality of life that all should be enjoying.
“In our day to day life, we are missing ‘quality of life’ and we need to fight to get it back by having time for family, balancing work and life; being responsible, being security conscious, being result oriented and focused to it; having a plan to guide your daily work; living within your means and accepting who you are.”
Depression was the theme for this year’s World Health Day. Depression is a mental disorder that affects quality of life and may not seem to be an issue of concern for Papua New Guineans, but is very much present in the society.
Dr Yamba states that the depth of the issue is not known but is present.
Dr Yamba also participated at the 2017 PNG Women’s Forum, held recently in Goroka. He co-facilitated workshops with the women and his main message was for the women folk in PNG to concentrate on raising their children to be future leaders of this nation.
