By ANTHONY KAYBING
THE Autonomous Bougainville Government Members have submitted themselves for voluntarily HIV/AIDS test.
“This is a big initiative and history for PNG,” project officer of the United Nations AIDS Development Fund John Kian said yesterday.
Mr Kian said this during the leadership HIV/AIDS awareness programme of ABG leaders in which the leaders and other prominent citizens are undergoing a week’s course on how to overcome the deadly virus.
Mr Kian told The National that this was a big step by the leaders of Bougainville and urged other leaders in Bougainville and the country to follow the example of the ABG leaders.
ABG Member Dr Benedict Pisi, who is also the deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Select AIDS Committee, told the leaders that he was happy with the step they were taking to undergo voluntary testing.
Dr Pisi said this was the way forward to preventing AIDS and also to show the people that testing was an important step in fighting AIDS.
He also reminded them that the test was voluntary and confidential.
Buka Hospital pathologist Jacinta Mangogoana was present to carry out blood tests.
She told the leaders that it was important for them to know their AIDS status.
“Whatever the outcome of your test results, it will remain confidential between you and me,” she reminded them.
The programme was funded by UNDP and UNAIDS and is the first of its kind in the country.