St Joseph Mingende District Hospital elevated to a level 4 hospital after 14 years

Mingende, Kundiawa: After 75 years since its establishment, St Joseph Mingende Rural Hospital was accredited and elevated to a Level 4 District Hospital.

His Lordship Bishop Paul Sundu receiving the certificate of accreditation from Health Minister Elias Kapavore.

The accreditation certificate was awarded on Monday August 25, 2025 by the Minister for Health Honourable Elias Kapavore and was received by His Lordship Bishop Paul Sundu on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Kundiawa and the Catholic Church Health Services Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference.

Present to witness this milestone were distinguished leaders and representatives of Simbu Province, Jiwaka Province, National Department of Health, Simbu Provincial Health Authority and hundreds of people.

The program started with a tour of the hospital and followed by speeches at the St Joseph Mingende Parish stage.

The dignitaries touring the hospital.

His Lordship Bishop Paul Sundu in his remarks highlighted Catholic Church’s holistic approach in its vision of providing and improving the healthcare of the people of Papua New Guinea regardless of age, religion, gender or ethnicity and he also highlighted the need to follow in the inspiration of the Gospel and the compassionate attitude of Jesus who was the first doctor and healer.

His Lordship Bishop Paul Sundu giving his welcome remarks

CCHS Monitoring and Evaluations Manager Elizabeth Akuire expressed sentiments of gratitude to Minister Kapavore and his team for partnering with the Catholic Church through its efforts in healthcare delivery and giving it the recognition it deserves by elevating the hospital to a Level 4 District Hospital. 

Meanwhile, Minister Kapavore commended the Catholic Church for being the government’s partner in delivering much – needed services like health and education to the rural people for the last 50 years and even before independence.

“The Catholic Church has always been a pioneer in service delivery, in some places, it was even there before Independence, and Mingende happens to be one of the places that the missionaries established before independence. This milestone now paves way for more opportunities of collaboration between the Church and the Simbu Provincial Health Authority (SiPha) to recruit skilled medical professionals to serve the people of Mingende and those from the surrounding catchments”.

To conclude the program, fifteen long – serving staff received recognition awards from Minister Kapavore before the ground – breaking ceremony to construct a new dormitory for Divine Word University students coming to do their practical at the hospital.

Long serving staff of 40 years Mary Kuria receiving her certificate from Health Minister Elias Kapavore

St Joseph Mingende District Hospital is now the second hospital operating under the Catholic Church through the Catholic Church Health Services after Vunanope Hospital.

The process to elevate St Joseph Mingende Hospital to a level 4 Hospital took 14 years.