PAPUA New Guinea has been rated second among four countries in the Asia Pacific region to have more than 1% prevalence in the HIV/AIDS epidemic among adult population.
PNG and Myanmar share the 1.3% prevalence status while Thailand holds the highest record in the region of HIV/AIDS prevalence at 1.4 % and Cambodia stands at 0.9 %.
These figures were announced during the week-long 22nd Annual Association of Development Finance Institutions of the Pacific (ADFIP) Conference held at the Crowne Plaza in Port Moresby from Aug 22-27.
In a paper presented on Aug 27 by Tim Rwabuhemba, PNG’s UNAIDS country coordinator, titled “Overview of the AIDS epidemic and the potential impacts in the Asia Pacific region”, Mr Rwabuhemba said: “With 65 million people infected globally, nearly 25 million already dead and the vast majority of the more than 35 million people living with HIV unaware of their status, AIDS is among the greatest development and security challenges facing the world today.”
He said in PNG infections had been growing since 1986 when the first victim was reported.
By 2004, AIDS had become the leading cause of illness and death among adults admitted to the Port Moresby General Hospital in the National Capital District.

Type In Your Name:

Type In Your E-mail:

Your Friend's E-mail:

Your Comments:

Receive copy: