Ms. Susina Yatapya is the winner of the Australian High Commission’s Alpers Award for Excellence in Health Research, which honours the life and work of the late Professor Michael Alpers, who dedicated his career to understanding and combating infectious disease in Papua New Guinea.
Professor Alpers was the longest serving Director of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) and was an honorary life member of the Australasian Society of Infectious Diseases (ASID).
Professor Alpers’ dedication to studying and combating infectious diseases in PNG contributed to initiatives tackling malaria, pneumonia, and more, and paved the way for the discovery of prions, a class of infectious protein. He was internationally renowned as an interdisciplinary expert in tropical medicine.
The Award will fund Ms Yatapya’s travel to Canberra, Australia, where she will attend ASID’s Annual Scientific Meeting in April. There, Ms Yatapya will present her research outcomes and meet with eminent and emerging health scientists and policymakers from across Australia and the Pacific.
The Alpers Award highlights Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting health management, research, services and policy development initiatives in Papua New Guinea.
Australia is a longstanding partner for the management and elimination of infectious diseases in PNG. The Australian High Commission is delighted to support Ms Yatapya to deepen her knowledge and collaborate with her peers to develop strategies for treatment. On accepting the Alpers Award, Ms Yatapya said that she was overjoyed to receive it.
“Professor Alpers was a hero of mine, and I look forward to utilising this to improve health outcomes for the people of PNG,” she said.
Ms Yatapya was selected from 46 applicants from across Papua New Guinea. Her research has focused on malaria and pregnancy, particularly in the Abau district of Central Province, contributing to understanding of how infectious diseases present and affect vulnerable populations.
