The Governor of Papua New Guinea's Oro Province is urging the Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill, to intervene over the withdrawal of Australian-funded health programmes.
Gary Juffa says the removal of aid could mean death for many Papua New Guineans, especially those living in rural and remote areas, where people have no access to basic health care.
Mr Juffa says health care in PNG is far from satisfactory and much of the support the provinces have received up till now is from Australia.
He says PNG may wish to demonstrate its sovereignty as an independent nation but it can only stand on its own feet once it has an effective and efficient health system in place.
Mr Juffa says Australia has a right to withdraw its funding but PNG cannot yet take care of its citizens' health.
