The program formally and commonly known as the "Health Extension Officer (HEO)
program" is a “home grown” PNG program, which is unique to PNG and the rest of the
world, where the emphasis is placed in the delivery of quality health care in the rural
areas.
The program trains Health Extension Officers (HEOs) to especially serve the
health care needs of the rural population (health centers) in Papua New Guinea.
The program is aimed at addressing the critical shortage of trained health workforce by
graduating professional Health Extension Officers (HEOs) as clinicians, public officers,
researchers, and as managers and administrators of health facilities who are trained
and prepared to work in disadvantages areas, with limited resources, to provide quality
health services especially in rural Papua New Guinea.
