The Papua New Guinea Business Coalition Against HIV/AIDS (BAHA) has teamed up with Digicel to launch HIV information helpline at the Aviat Club in Port Moresby last Wednesday.
Digicel general manager Dr Ann Clarke during the launching said Papua New Guinea still had what was known as the “low prevalence epidemic” estimated to be 1.28% among adults aged between 15 and 49 years at the end of 2006.
She said that both BAHA and Digicel launched this initiative basically with the aim to help Papua New Guineans to have fair knowledge and understanding about issues regarding HIV and AIDS.
She said that this was the first free HIV information line available on the Digicel mobile a network on 72002242 and around the country to bring across necessary information about the disease especially to the rural population where about 85% of the people live.
The Digicel network is now accessible to millions of Papua New Guineans in and outside Port Moresby and in more remote areas, Dr Clarke said.
She also made known to the media during the launching that the helpline also aimed to support the work of other HIV service provider organisations while offering tailored and personalised information and referral services in which the BAHA Digicel line would be available between 8am and 5pm on all working days.
Joint CEO of Nasfund, Ian Tarutia in his remarks acknowledged Digicel for being good partners in the promotion of HIV/AIDS epidemic and the media for their support in engaging themselves in such awareness programmes.