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THE response to HIV has become more
vigorous with a national research agenda (NRA) being developed to guide
funding and commissioning of new research in the country.
The NRA was developed during a workshop coordinated by the National AIDS
Council Secretariat in conjunction with national and international
partners last week to review researches related to HIV.
The three-day workshop brought together more than 200 national and
international researchers including participants from non-government
organisations, development partners and the National AIDS Council
Secretariat and the National Department of Health.
It was to review researches related to HIV that has been done in PNG,
identify what type of research that has not been done, facilitate group
discussions and make recommendations for the agenda and future
researches.
More than 60 research studies were reviewed with 20 priority areas
identified by working groups who will work with NACS over the next few
months in prioritising them.
“This is one of the biggest research workshops I have ever seen and I am
pleased to see everyone involved in moving the research agenda forward,”
Health Secretary Dr Clement Malau said.
The purpose of developing the NRA was to:
*Establish research priority areas in PNG to
respond with research to critical areas and inform the scope and
direction of HIV-related interventions so that they are evidenced based;
*Determine within prioritised areas what types
of research should be conducted: (a) Epidemiology; (b) Clinical; (c)
Social and Behavioural; (d) Economic; and
*Identify areas of research to determine the
effectiveness and efficacy of HIV-related interventions.
It was stressed during the workshop that the research was in line with
PNG national strategic plan for HIV and AIDS for 2006-2010 and covers
two key focus areas: epidemiology, surveillance and social and behaviour
change research with an aim “to reduce the HIV prevalence in the general
population to below 1%t by 2010, improve care for those affected and
minimise the social and economic impact of the epidemic on individuals,
families and communities.”
The NRA will do and any intervention now will be evidence-based to avoid
wasting resources.
 
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