Awareness increases knowledge

Staff and clients of St Paul Urban Clinic and voluntary confidential counselling and testing commemorating the World AIDS Day yesterday at their catchment area in Gerehu. Pictured is Port Moresby archdiocese health manager Sr Geraldine Arua (seated) with St Paul staff. – Picture supplied

AWARENESS programmes targeting communities increases people’s understanding of HIV/AIDS, a health worker says.

**St Paul’s Gerehu Urban Clinic staff ready with their float to go around Gerehu in commemoration of the World AIDS Day yesterday.**

Tokarara clinic nurse-in-charge of HIV Pauline Nelson said the HIV section at the clinic was established in 2017.
She said this was the second year an awareness programme was organised to commemorate the World AIDS Day.
She said two comedians were engaged to deliver messages through dramas and were well received by the communities.
“The dramas were fun, the message was simple and was understood well by everyone,” she said.

**Staff from Yampu Health Centre in Enga posing with their ambulance and banner before heading out for outreach and awareness in commemoration of World AIDS Day yesterday. – Picture supplied**

“Even our HIV patients who were part of the audience gave good feedbacks.”
She said it was important for everyone to work together in addressing the HIV/AIDS problem in Papua New Guinea.

**Dr Maru Garo from the NCD health authority speaking to staff and the public during the World AIDS Day commemoration at the office in Port Moresby yesterday.**

Nelson said there was a need to educate more people about HIV so they could know their status and get on antiretroviral treatment (ART).
FHI360 deputy chief of party Dr Poruan Temu said: “Antiretroviral treatment brings the viral load down, keeps it down and it prevents spread to others.”