Operation Open Heart Foundation

22/04/2026

We are pleased to share the success of the Paediatric Cardiac Screening in Tari, Hela Province, this week. Thanks to the support of Air Niugini, BSP Financial Group Limited, Sir Brian Bell Foundation and the Hela Provincial Health Authority, this is possible. Together, we are taking this vital service to children across PNG.

Watch our page for more updates and news as we reach each province, one heartbeat at a time.

Next on the schedule is Northern (Oro) Province: 06th - 08th May 2026.

10/04/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉 Kaupa Inoex, KenElla Bae

07/04/2026

🌟 2026 PAEDIATRIC CARDIAC SCREENING PROGRAM BEGINS! 🌟

We are proud to announce the commencement of the 2026 Paediatric Cardiac Screening Program — a national effort to ensure every child in Papua New Guinea has access to early detection and lifesaving heart care.

Over the past two years, our collective impact has been extraordinary.
❤️ 729 children screened in 2024
❤️ 790 children screened in 2025
Together, more than 1,500 children across PNG have now been screened for congenital and acquired heart disease. These numbers represent real lives, real families, and real hope.

This progress has only been possible because of the incredible support from our partners:
Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) — Thank you for coordinating local logistics, mobilising families, and ensuring our teams can reach children in every province.
Air Niugini — Your support in providing airline tickets for our screening teams and for children travelling to Port Moresby General Hospital for surgery has removed one of the biggest barriers to care.
BSP Financial Group Limited — Your 2024 donation of essential medical equipment has strengthened our ability to diagnose heart conditions accurately and efficiently.

Sir Brian Bell Foundation — Your funding has enabled us to support the screening team's hotel accommodation and allowances, ensuring our screening teams can continue their work even when PHAs are unable to support. Your commitment ensures no province is left behind.
To all our donors, sponsors, and supporters — thank you for standing with us. Your contributions are saving lives and building a stronger future for PNG’s children.

As we begin the 2026 program, we look forward to reaching even more families, strengthening early detection, and ensuring timely treatment for children who need surgery at Port Moresby General Hospital.

Together, we are giving every child the chance to grow, thrive, and live with a healthy heart ❤️. We save them today so they can contribute tomorrow to Papua New Guinea's future growth and development.

For the provinces not on the schedule, we will try to fit them in during October and early November.

01/04/2026

Five children prepare to return home after lifesaving heart surgery — thanks to the powerful national partnership between Operation Open Heart Foundation and Air Niugini.

From Southern Highlands to Manus, Milne Bay to Morobe, these children travelled to Port Moresby because Air Niugini sponsored their flights, giving them a chance at life that their families could never have afforded.

During the week of the Open-Heart Surgical Mission from 19th to 23rd March 2026, they underwent critical heart surgery with the support of Open Heart International Australia and our dedicated PNG clinicians. They are now recovering at Port Moresby General Hospital — alive, healing, and full of hope.

But the truth is heartbreaking: Hundreds more children just like them are still waiting. Time is running out. If we don’t reach them soon, many will not survive long enough for surgery. Their futures depend on the support we build today.

Partnerships like Air Niugini’s are not just generous — they are lifesaving. They make it possible for children to reach the operating table before it’s too late.

Together, we can save more hearts. Together, we can give PNG’s children a future. ❤️

31/03/2026

❤️ HEARTWARMING GIFT FROM SME BUSINESS OWNER❤️

A beautiful act of kindness from Ms. Jenny Tia Mulungu & her daughter, Charissee Jalipi Mulungu.

Sometimes the most powerful stories come from ordinary people doing extraordinary things. During the start of the two Open-Heart Surgical Mission this month, the Operation Open Heart Foundation PNG was deeply moved by a touching act of generosity from a mother–daughter duo who run two small local businesses in Unity Mall, Waigani, NCD.

Ms. Jenny Tia Mulungu and her daughter, Ms. Charissee Jalipi Mulungu, donated 100 specially branded pillows to support patients recovering from open heart surgery. Each of them contributed 50 pillows — a gift straight from the heart.

These pillows are not just soft comfort items. They are essential tools used in physiotherapy to help patients breathe easier, manage pain, and recover safely after surgery. As Physiotherapist Ms. Veronica Ume explained:
“Pillows are a simple yet vital tool for recovery… Donations like these make a real difference for our patients.”

What made this moment even more special was hearing Charissee speak about why their family chose to give:
“Giving back is important to us… Even small gestures can have a big impact on someone’s healing journey.”

For many of our patients, these pillows will be the first thing they hold after waking from surgery — a symbol of comfort, hope, and the kindness of strangers, yet friends who believe in their healing.
OOHF Director of Corporate Affairs, Ms. Jane Huka, expressed heartfelt appreciation:
“Their support truly exemplifies the spirit of community and compassion that drives our foundation.”

Jenny’s Shop and Jallipi Salon may be small businesses, but their impact is enormous. Their generosity reminds us that you don’t need to be a big company to make a big difference. Every act of kindness strengthens the chain of support that helps our heart patients recover and return home to their families.

From our hearts to yours — thank you, Jenny and Charissee.
Your compassion will be felt by every patient who holds these pillows close during their healing journey.

25/03/2026

19/03/2026

Boroko Motors PNG, operator of Budget Car Rental PNG, is proud to support the Operation Open Heart Foundation's Open-Heart Paediatric Surgical Mission, taking place from 19–23 March 2026 at Port Moresby General Hospital.

This mission brings together local and international medical specialists to deliver life-saving heart surgeries to children in need.

To support the team, Boroko Motors PNG is providing a dedicated vehicle for the duration of the mission, ensuring the safe and efficient transport of medical personnel, equipment, and supplies.

We are honored to partner with the Operation Open Heart Foundation and support the health and future of Papua New Guinea’s children.

Together, we support better health outcomes. One mission at a time. ❤️‍🩹

06/03/2026

We thank our sponsors and partners for making this surgical mission possible at the Port Moresby General Hospital in collaboration with SingHealth and National Heart Centre Singapore.

16/02/2026

Air Niugini

17/12/2025

16/10/2025

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐊𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐂 𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

The Operation Open Heart Foundation today announced a donation of K10,000 to the Cardiothoracic Society of Papua New Guinea (CTSPNG), reinforcing its commitment to advancing cardiac care and professional excellence.

The donation will support the Society’s annual subscriptions to international medical professional bodies, enabling PNG’s cardiac specialists to remain connected to global networks, research, and training opportunities. It will also assist with membership registrations for local cardiac practitioners, ensuring continued access to professional development and collaborative platforms.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Ms. Jane Huka, Director of Corporate Affairs for the Operation Open Heart Foundation, emphasised the importance of investing in the people behind the open-heart mission.

“This donation is more than a financial gesture—it’s a reaffirmation of our belief in the power of professional community. By supporting the Cardiothoracic Society’s memberships and affiliations, we’re helping PNG’s cardiac specialists stay at the forefront of global practice, while strengthening the local network that makes life-saving care possible,” said Ms. Huka. “We are proud to stand beside the Society as they continue to build capacity, share knowledge, and elevate cardiac care for all Papua New Guineans.”

The President of the Cardiothoracic Society of Papua New Guinea, Dr. Noah Tapaua, welcomed the support and praised the enduring partnership between the two organisations.
“Operation Open Heart has been a cornerstone of cardiac care in PNG for over three decades. Their support today reflects a shared vision—not just for surgical excellence, but for a thriving professional ecosystem that empowers our doctors, nurses, and allied health workers,” said Dr. Tapaua. “This contribution will allow our members to engage more deeply with international peers, access cutting-edge resources, and continue delivering world-class care right here in PNG.”

The partnership between the Operation Open Heart Foundation and the Cardiothoracic Society continues to evolve, with joint efforts in surgical missions, training programs, and provincial outreach. Both organisations remain committed to improving access to cardiac care, building local expertise, and fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence.

For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:
Operation Open Heart Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +675 7831 2875