‘Telefomin villages at high risk of HIV’

By GABRIEL FITO
UNDERAGE marriage and unprotected sexual behaviour have been an ongoing practice in several remote villages in the Telefomin District of Sandaun province.
This was revealed by HIV/AIDS trainer Kevin Wassam upon arrival in Wewak after completing a-four-week training on gender human rights and sexual health at Yawa and Hedwagi villages from Sept 26 to Oct 19.
Mr Wassam said even illegal sex products allegedly bought from the Batas shopping centre at the PNG Indonesia border had also surfaced in these remote villages.
According to a village councillor, the Christian Brethren Church-run health centre had treated three cases of sexual penetration this year after youths took advantage of these sex products to enlarge penis before having intercourse.
Mr Wassam described the situation as very frightening, as elderly man were marrying young girls aged between 10 to 12 while married couples were having multiple sex partners in the absence of any law enforcing bodies to discourage such unsafe sex practices.
He said even in other neighbouring villages homosexual was widespread and with the introduction of illicit sex products, these remote villagers were heading for disaster if no amicable solution is provided by the government.
The training conducted by Mr Wassam was the first of its kind in the area and he said more of such training together with awareness on law and order must immediately take effect before the entire population is wiped out by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
He feared that people from these villagers who were moving into towns and cities might return with the deadly virus and spread the virus because there were no laws restricting one man or women to having more than one sex partner.
The workshop allegedly learnt that it was a common practice where married men were sharing their wives with other sex partners and vice versa because they do not know that it is not right for a man or woman to have multiple sex partners.
He condemned unsafe sexual behaviour, adding that such practice is very vulnerable and all could contract the deadly virus if an infected person had sex with one from the area.