Purpose The outcome of babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia has improved with advances in surgery , anesthesia and neonatal intensive care post operatively. In provincial hospitals of Papua New Guinea, the management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is made difficult by poor diagnostic services and post-operative care. Case presentation We report the case of a one day old female with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Bockdalek) that was successfully managed in a resource limited, non-neonatal intensive care setting in Alotau Provincial Hospital of Papua New Guinea. Conclusion Congenital diaphragmatic hernias can be successfully managed in resource limited settings. The degree of pulmonary hypoplasia, timely diagnosis and intervention and good post-operative nursing care contributes to the outcome of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.