Operation Open Heart Foundation Inc. (OOHF) and Air Niugini Limited on 25 June announced the formal signing of a Corporate Responsibility Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), strengthening their long-standing partnership to support life-saving cardiac care for children across Papua New Guinea.
Air Niugini's support for Operation Open Heart spans more than 30 years, beginning with the airlifting of volunteer Australian medical teams and tonnes of critical medical equipment into the country to support surgical missions. Over time, the partnership has expanded. Today, Air Niugini plays a vital role in supporting provincial cardiac screening teams that travel across the country to assess patients — primarily children — at provincial hospitals and clinics. These assessments ensure children requiring urgent surgery are identified early and referred to Port Moresby General Hospital for life-saving treatment.
The airline also provides complimentary travel for children diagnosed with heart conditions and their guardians to and from Port Moresby for surgery.
As outlined in the MOU, Air Niugini has historically supported OOHF by providing airline tickets for doctors and clinicians travelling to provinces to conduct cardiac screening, as well as for children identified with heart disease who require referral to Port Moresby for surgery.
The signing formalises this commitment and ensures the continued delivery of one of the country's most important health programmes.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer Alan Milne reaffirmed the airline's commitment.
"Air Niugini is proud to stand with Operation Open Heart Foundation in ensuring that children with heart conditions, no matter where they live, have a fair chance at life. As the national airline, we have a responsibility to support initiatives that strengthen the wellbeing of our people," Milne said.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to connecting families with life-saving care, supporting medical teams travelling to remote provinces, and ensuring that no child is left behind because of distance or financial barriers," he added. "We are honoured to play our part in helping Papua New Guinean children access the cardiac treatment they urgently need. Air Niugini will continue to work closely with OOHF to ensure safe, timely and compassionate travel support for all beneficiaries under this programme."
Operation Open Heart Foundation Chair Kathy Johnston thanked Air Niugini for its longstanding commitment to the programme.
"Operation Open Heart Foundation expresses its deepest gratitude to Air Niugini for its unwavering support over the years. This partnership has enabled hundreds of children to be screened, diagnosed and transported for life-saving surgery," Johnston said.
"By formalising this collaboration, we are strengthening a national effort that brings hope to families who often face overwhelming challenges. Air Niugini's generosity ensures that children from remote provinces can travel safely to Port Moresby for surgery, while our clinicians can reach communities where early detection saves lives," she added.
"This MOU is more than an agreement — it is a shared commitment to giving every child with heart disease the chance to grow, thrive and live a full life," she said.
The partnership ensures that children with congenital and acquired heart disease — many from remote and rural communities — have access to timely diagnosis and surgical intervention. It also strengthens the capacity of PNG's cardiac clinicians through annual surgical missions and provincial outreach programmes.
Since the Operation Open Heart Programme was established in 1993, thousands of Papua New Guineans, most of them children, have been given a second chance at life through access to essential cardiac care.
