An article in the Medical Journal of Australia is calling for a more 'intelligent' approach to aid on the Papua New Guinean side of the international border in the Torres Strait.
About 400 people reportedly died on the PNG side during a cholera outbreak in 2011 in Western Province and AusAid responded quickly to requests for assistance.
There were no transmissions to the Australian side of the border.
But the article says aid needs to be more broad-based and long-term to prepare the health system and infrastructure in Western Province for future disease outbreaks.
Co-author John Hall, associate professor of public health at Newcastle University told Stefan Armbruster Australian aid needs to shift away from disease specific programs.
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