Church AIDS work lauded

CHURCHES have been highly commended for providing half of the basic services in the country to areas where there is absence of government services.
“It’s hard to imagine PNG without churches. You can imagine the extent and the contributions of the churches in the country,” Australian High Commissioner; Ian Kemish said in his speech at the opening of the Begabari STI (sexually transmitted infections) clinic at Anglicare PNG Inc. in Port Moresby last Friday.
He said partnership between Anglicare and other stakeholders and donor agencies should be the theme of Anglicare’s developments as it played an important role.
“The work on the clinic is the work of partnership and I congratulate the (Anglican) church and Anglicare branches in Lae, Popondetta, Alotau, Mt. Hagen and Port Moresby,” Kemish said.
He said the idea behind working in partnership in addressing HIV/AIDS, was to work in an innovative way to reduce the rate of STI and HIV and increase access to services of these diseases.
“HIV/AIDS is a significant development challenge and we are happy to work alongside churches but it would mean nothing without the partnership,” he added.
The Begabari clinic (Begabari in the local Northern dialect means place of peace) was built at a cost of K7 million provided by AusAID.
The clinic is open to for STI tests, counseling, treatment, health education, men’s and women’s health and internal and external referrals.
All services that are provided are easy to us, confidential and free of charge.