Botten: Step up fight against HIV/AIDS

 THE private sector needs to step up the pace to work with the government, non-governmental organisations, churches and communities in the fight against  HIV/AIDS, Oil Search managing director Peter Botten says.

Speaking at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia yesterday, Botten said this partnership would be an effective method of fighting  HIV/AIDS in PNG.

He spoke at a session that focused on HIV/AIDS in PNG, leveraging the public-private partnership at the conference.

Health Minister Michael Malabag spoke at the  conference.

Other speakers included Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Brett Mason Jan Beagle, UNAIDS deputy executive director Professor Sharon Lewin, who is local co-chair of the conference, and executive director of the Global Fund Mark Dybul.

Botten said Oil Search’s public-private partnership model was different to many others – it relied on the support and engagement with the communities in their  operating areas.

“The fences in our operating areas are designed to keep pigs and dogs out – not our communities – so we must get on with them. We must engage and share some of our respective challenges and aspirations. 

“This is an unusual operating model in PNG. It is far more normal to see large fences and regular use of police and defence forces to maintain law and order, effectively separating operations people from the people in the area.”