Forget cure. Prevent, care and treat HIV/AIDS: Bun
By ALISON ANIS
AN international AIDS conference has been told that Papua New Guinea had failed to cure HIV/AIDS and will need to focus more on prevention, care and treatment exercises.
Former parliamentarian Dr Banare Bun said there was no denying that PNG had the highest recorded cases of HIV/AIDS and the fastest infection rate in the South Pacific.
He was speaking after arriving from the 17th international AIDS conference in Mexico last week. The PNG 46-member delegation, led by parliamentary HIV/AIDS committee chairman, Jamie Maxtone-Graham, comprises representatives from various HIV/AIDS organisations and Government agencies, development partners, faith-based and civil society organisations.
Among them was outspoken Autonomous Bougainville Government speaker Francesca Semoso.
Dr Bun said the six-day conference focused on “the time to act”.
“We need to scale up programmes such as education and awareness on HIV/AIDS in schools and include personal development as part of the school curriculum.
“Studies showed that introduction of personal development as part of the education curriculum could be responsible for one-third reduction in HIV infection,” the former Henganofi MP said.
He said there was also a need to improve condom use for both males and females and increase the level of anti-retroviral treatment for those infected.
“There also needs to be political commitment and leadership given how this had helped reduced infections in other countries.”
Dr Bun also cited the need to address behavioural change.
Mr Maxtone-Graham is expected brief the Government and Health Department on PNG’s participation and outcome of the conference.
About 20,000 people from around the globe attended the conference.
Nation Stories