By WASITA ROYAL
A male health worker in rural Papua New Guinea is breaking cultural barriers to lead the fight against Gender-Based Violence.
Wayne Polout, a Health Extension Officer at Palmalmal Rural Health Centre in Pomio, East New Britain, is confronting one of his community’s most hidden problems.
For nearly five years, he has served not just as a medical officer, but as a passionate advocate challenging deep-seated norms.
GBV is deeply rooted and is rarely reported because of the cultural tradition where family privacy is prioritised with male authority, meaning violence is often settled within the home.
Now that he is trained under Care International’s Sapotim Lida Program, a program aimed at promoting gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) in Papua New Guinea’s health sector, Wayne leads a team of male advocates in partnership with police and local government run public awareness campaigns.
Wayne says they have received positive feedback and believe education can change perceptions.
He explains that the biggest challenge is changing men’s minds in a male-dominated society where traditional beliefs position men as unquestioned leaders. Perpetrators, especially those with status, often resist accountability.
Despite the resistance, Wayne is determined to develop programs to reshape how men view violence so they may promot leadership based on care and partnership, not dominance.