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By ZACHERY PER
MONPI Coffee exporting company is conducting HIV/AIDS awareness among
coffee growers supplying its marketing chain.
It decided to promote HIV/AIDS messages among coffee growers in Western
Highlands and Eastern Highlands provinces through its Monpi Sustainable
Development office.
It engaged two medical counsellors William Wanamp and Sr Prim Rose on
fulltime basis to conduct the awareness programme and assist growers
facing problems with HIV/AIDS-related problems.
Last Thursday, they visited to coffee growers at Siherene in the upper
Asaro area in Eastern Highlands province to conduct awareness on
HIV/AIDS.
They told the people that because they were part of the coffee chain
that Monpi coffee exported, they extend their HIV/AIDS awareness to
them.
Sr Rose, who is a nursing sister by profession, explained how HIV/AIDS
was spreading and how people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) should be
treated.
She also encouraged PLWHA to go for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT)
to know their HIV status.
Sr Rose also encouraged young couples intending to get married to go for
HIV test prior to getting married.
She said the virus was in PNG for 20 years but the people were not
taking precaution and that led to the fast growth of the virus.
“However, from questions raised by villagers it was clear that HIV/AIDS
awareness messages have not really reached the rural masses,” she said.
Mr Wanamp and Sr Rose completed similar awareness and assisted the
Western Highlands chain of coffee producers at Kigabah Coffee Estate and
will proceed to Kainantu’s Glen Coffee Plantation.
They said they had already identified 10 cases at Kigabah Estate in
Western Highlands province and would return to provide further
assistances.
 
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