AusAID gives kits to HIV/AIDS volunteers

LAST Friday, a small group of community home-based care volunteers and People Living With HIV/AIDS were proud recipients of drug and home-care kits.
The kits had been bought by AusAID through Family Health International (FHI) for its patients under the Real Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (RIPA) programme in Madang.
The project is about People Living with HIV/AIDS having one-on-one meeting or counselling with infected persons during house or ward visits to offer hope.
The donated items will be distributed to villages through the five community-based home care established sites at Krangket, Riwo, Newtown, Danben and Alexishafen.
The concept, trialed around the world, is taking place in Madang through a partnership between FHI, the Madang provincial AIDS council, Madang provincial health and Modilon General Hospital.
Joe Egu, one of the founders and outspoken ambassador for RIPA, said what was being witnessed was the evidence of people living with AIDS now being known as People Living With Higher Aims, becoming the vehicles in which to spread the message of hope.
Lutheran Shipping general manager Agua Nombri, and co-founder of the RIPA project with Egu, said such recognition coming from international donors was evidence based health service.
FHI country manager Daisy Raburabu commended the participants, saying RIPA was only successful through the work of the volunteers.