By SENT TIMBI
BANZ district in Western Highlands province launched a five-year plan to tackle HIV/AIDS, focusing on education for the people.
Western Highlands AIDS Council chairman Rev James Koi said the people must learn how to practise safe sex and to minimise the spread of the deadly virus.
He said fighting HIV/AIDS was not the sole responsibility of the health workers, non-governmental organisations and churches or the provincial AIDS council.
“All concerned citizens must take up the challenge and help educate their people in the district,” he said at the launching of the plan last Wednesday.
Banz is the second district to launch such a plan – Tambul launched its plan in 2005.
North Waghi MP Benjamin Ngants Mul, who launched the plan, said he would allocate K1 million for health services in the district next year.
He urged young people to refrain from night activities, smoking marijuana and consuming homebrew, which could result in unsafe sex.