SIXTEEN children have been screened for congenital heart disease at Boram General Hospital in Wewak under the 2026 National Cardiac Screening Program of the Operation Open Heart Foundation.
The two-day screening was conducted on August 10 and 11 by paediatric cardiac specialist Dr Kunera Kiromat, assisted by Boram General Hospital’s Specialized Medical Officer for Paediatrics, Dr Cecilia Pakule, and her team.
Of the 16 children screened, one was diagnosed with a complex cardiac condition, while three were identified for further surgical discussions. One child may require open-heart surgery, while two were identified for closed-heart procedures involving Patent Ductus Arteriosus ligation.
Six children received normal cardiac study results, confirming that they have healthy hearts.
The Wewak visit was the eighth province reached under the Foundation’s 2026 National Cardiac Screening Program.
Dr Kiromat said congenital heart disease remains a significant concern among children, particularly those with Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down syndrome.
“Children with Trisomy 21 have a 35–50 percent risk of having a congenital heart disease,” she said.
She explained that Atrioventricular Septal Defects (AVSDs) are among the most common congenital heart conditions identified in children with Down syndrome.
AVSD is a heart defect present at birth in which there are abnormalities involving the walls separating the heart chambers and the valves regulating blood flow. If left untreated, the condition can place excessive strain on the heart and lungs and may lead to heart failure.
Dr Pakule said Boram General Hospital regularly treats children with Trisomy 21, many of whom present with poor growth and delayed developmental milestones.
“They do come and we do admit them. Most of the time, these little children fail to thrive or grow to their normal potential or weights,” she said.
She said parents may also seek medical attention when they notice that their children are not sitting up or reaching developmental milestones at the same rate as their peers.
Dr Pakule thanked the East Sepik Provincial Health Authority, Air Niugini, the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and other supporters for helping make the screening program possible.
She said many patients come from remote communities and lack the financial means to travel for treatment, making transport assistance particularly important.
“Some of our patients come from very remote areas with no money at all, so Air Niugini’s support will be vital for parents and patients to access surgery,” she said.
Dr Kiromat stressed the need for early communication between screening teams and Provincial Health Authorities, as well as greater public awareness through media and community outreach, so that children with heart conditions can be identified and referred for treatment earlier.
Operation Open Heart Foundation Corporate Affairs Director Jane Huka said support from Provincial Health Authorities for the cardiac screening program has grown since its establishment.
She said when cardiac screening began in 2024, the Foundation carried much of the responsibility for supporting its three specialist paediatricians — Dr Cornelia Kilalang, Dr Diana Olita’a and Dr Kunera Kiromat.
Ms Huka acknowledged the support of Air Niugini and said the Foundation hoped to rebrand the initiative as the “Flying Doctors Program” to reflect the importance of air travel in taking specialist medical services to children across Papua New Guinea.
She also thanked Wewak Boutique for providing discounted accommodation for the visiting medical team.
The Operation Open Heart Foundation’s cardiac work builds on more than three decades of partnership with Port Moresby General Hospital, where open-heart surgical missions have helped develop local expertise and strengthen Papua New Guinea’s capacity to provide cardiac surgery to international standards.
The partnership has contributed to the development of an independent Cardiac Unit at Port Moresby General Hospital, now operated by a team of highly trained specialists.
The Foundation says it is now looking to support Boram General Hospital’s transition to Level 5 status by establishing a cardiac screening clinic within its Paediatric Department.
The initiative is also expected to provide a model for other Level 5 Provincial Health Authorities to establish cardiac screening clinics, expanding access to early diagnosis and life-saving cardiac care for children throughout Papua New Guinea.