Issue：Papua New Guinea is striving to achieve the minimum core requirements under the International Health Regulations in surveillance and outbreak response, and has experienced challenges in the availability and distribution of health professionals.Context：Since mid-2009, a large cholera outbreak spread across lowland regions of the country and has been associated with more than 15 500 notifications at a case fatality ratio of 3.2%. The outbreak placed significant pressure on clinical and public health services.Action：We describe some of the challenges to cholera preparedness and response in this human resource-limited setting, the strategies used to ensure effective cholera management and lessons learnt.Outcome：Cholera task forces were useful to establish a clear system of leadership and accountability for cholera outbreak response and ensure efficiencies in each technical area. Cholera outbreak preparedness and response was strongest when human resource and health systems functioned well before the outbreak. Communication relied on coordination of existing networks and methods for empowering local leaders and villagers to modify behaviours of the population.Discussion：In line with the national health emergencies plan, the successes of human resource strategies during the cholera outbreak should be built upon through emergency exercises, especially in non-affected provinces. Population needs for all public health professionals involved in health emergency preparedness and response should be mapped, and planning should be implemented to increase the numbers in relevant areas. Human resource planning should be integrated with health emergency planning. It is essential to maintain and strengthen the human resource capacities and experiences gained during the cholera outbreak to ensure a more effective response to the next health emergency.

PURPOSE: Countries that are less experienced with simulation-based healthcare education (SBHE) often import Western programs to initiate their efforts to deliver effective simulation training. Acknowledging cultural differences, we sought to determine whether faculty development program on SBHE in the United States could be transported successfully to train faculty members in Korea. METHODS: An international, collaborative, multi-professional program from a pre-existing Western model was adapted. The process focused on prioritization of curricular elements based on local needs, translation of course materials, and delivery of the program in small group facilitation exercises. Three types of evaluation data were collected: participants' simulation experience; participants' ratings of the course; and participant's self-assessment of the impact of the course on their knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) toward simulation teaching. RESULTS: Thirty faculty teachers participated in the course. Eighty percent of the participants answered that they spent less than 25% of their time as simulation instructors. Time spent on planning, scenario development, delivering training, research, and administrative work ranged from 10% to 30%. Twenty-eight of 30 participants agreed or strongly agreed that the course was excellent and relevant to their needs. The participants' assessment of the impact of the course on their KSA toward simulation teaching improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Although there were many challenges to overcome, a systematic approach in the adaptation of a Western simulation faculty development course model was successfully implemented in Korea, and the program improves self-confidence and learning in participants.
Delivery of Health Care ; Exercise ; Korea ; Learning ; Self-Assessment ; United States

Objective: Routine immunization coverage in Papua New Guinea has decreased in the past 5 years. This persistently low routine immunization coverage has resulted in low population immunity and frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease across the country. We describe the use of a catch-up programme to improve routine immunization during the coronavirus disease pandemic in Papua New Guinea during 2020–2022. Methods: In June 2020, 13 provinces of Papua New Guinea were selected to undergo a vaccination catch-up programme, with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund. Twelve provinces received financial and logistic support through the Accelerated Immunization and Health Systems Strengthening programme, and one received support from WHO. All stakeholders were involved in planning and implementing the catch-up programme. Results: Between July 2020 and June 2022, about 340 health facilities conducted catch-up activities. The highest number of children aged under 1 year were vaccinated in 2022 (n = 33 652 for third dose of pentavalent vaccine). The national coverage of routine immunization (including the catch-up vaccinations) increased between 2019 and 2020 – by 5% for the third dose of pentavalent vaccine, 11% for the measles-rubella vaccine and 16% for the inactivated poliovirus vaccine. The coverage declined slightly in 2021 before increasing again in 2022. Discussion: The catch-up programme was an instrumental tool to improve routine immunization coverage between 2020 and 2022 and during the pandemic in Papua New Guinea. With appropriate technical and logistic support, including financial and human resources, catch-up programmes can strengthen routine immunization coverage across the country.