AIDS strategy finalised for NEC

THE new National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2011-2015 (NHS) has been finalised and is expected to be submitted to the National Executive Council for endorsement before the end of the year.
The NHS represents a framework of partnership between the government, civil society, churches, research organisations, private sector and development partners to respond to the AIDS epidemic.
It seeks to build on past achievement and address shortcomings in the PNG response to HIV/AIDS and its goal is to reduce transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI) and minimise their impact on individuals, families and communities.
The NHS links with two key government policy documents; the national strategic plan 2010-50 (Vision 2050) and the development strategic plan (DSP).
According to the report on the update of the NHS; the key difference between the NHS and Vision 2050 is the inclusion of three priority areas and they include; prevention, counselling, testing, treatment, care and support services and system strengthening.
 “The transition from the Vision 2050 to the NHS will be a gradual process and will take three years.
 “An important step in this process is building the capacity of the provincial AIDS committees (PACs) before full decentralisation,” it said.
It stated that the long-term objective was to strengthen capacity at the provincial level.
“To effectively achieve the goals of the priority areas would  need the concerted effort to address a range of key cross-cutting issues.”