For the first time, mothers at the Mt Hagen Provincial Specialist Hospital have received official birth certificates for their newborns, marking a historic milestone in Papua New Guinea’s civil registration efforts.
On Monday, 03 August 2026, the Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry (PNGCIR), the Western Highlands PHA and UNICEF, with support from the Australian Government, organized the presentation of certificates through the hospital’s Birth Registration Desk, working to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems across the country.
The milestones reflects the commendable leadership of the Government of PNG, through the PNGCIR and the WHPHA, in bringing birth registration closer to families.
The leadership of the WHPHA has been instrumental in this partnership, including by providing the space and operation support needed to bring birth registration services into the hospital setting.
PNGCIR’s Acting Registrar-General Mr Leslie Simon hailed the occasion as a landmark achievement: “Today’s moment reflects the Government’s continued commitment to ensuring every child is assured their right to legal identity from birth.”
“Birth registration helps children access the services they need to grow, learn and reach their potential. As PNG advances toward Vision 2050, ensuring every child is registered and recognized is an investment in human capital, stronger national planning and a more inclusive and prosperous future.”
Often described as a child’s first right, birth registration provides legal recognition and access to healthcare, education, protection and other essential services. Yet in PNG, only 13 percent of children are registered at birth, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation, exclusion and violence.
Since the establishment of the Birth Registration Desk in November 2025 at the hospital, 464 birth registrations have been recorded. Of these, 228 newborns have already received certificates, with the remainder being processed for distribution.
The integration of birth registration into health services including antenatal care and maternity services, is helping families register children early and access official documentation more easily.
UNICEF Country Representative in PNG, Dr Veera Mendonca, said: “The successful initiative shows that more children can receive birth certificates when registrations services are brought closer to families.”
“Mothers understand the value of birth certificates: they give children legal identity and help them access essential services throughout life. Integrating birth registration into health facilities makes the process easier and encourages mothers to give birth where skilled care is available. By expanding this approach across PNG, every child can be registered from the beginning and have the protection, identity and the opportunity they deserve.”
With support from the Australian Government, UNICEF has worked with the PNGCIR to strengthen birth registration at both policy and service delivery levels.
This has included technical, financial and coordination support for implementing the CRVS Action Plan; procurement of 44 mobile registration kits, establishment of birth registration offices in PHAs, staff training and CIR staff and awareness campaigns to boost demand for birth registration services.
The Western Highlands Province milestone demonstrates how integrating birth registration into health facilities can help close registration gaps and reach families early.
Continued government leadership, stronger coordination, increased domestic investment and expansion of birth registration through health facilities and outreach services will be crucial to achieving universal birth registration for every child in PNG.