Condoms for Games
The National, Friday July 10th, 2015
By LEAH OMAE
THE Health Department is taking the lead to supply condoms for distribution to reduce HIV risks during the Pacific Games, an official said.
Deputy Secretary for Health Dr Paison Dakulala said the department had a strategic plan in big events to carry out preventive messages and awareness on health threats.
He said the department had allocated two groups to address health awareness in Port Moresby.
The first group was dealing with injuries of athletes and officials and second was focusing on providing public health messages on diseases like HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and on hygiene and sanitation.
Pamphlets about diseases, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention measures along with free condoms were being handed out.
Esther Nelson, a midwife at Marie Stopes PNG, said her team was giving information of contraceptive methods in family planning to have children not by chance but by choice and not by chance.
She said the organisation, a partner in the fight against STIs and HIV with Health Department, was offering comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and family planning services.
“Family planning can reduce risk of maternal deaths by 32 per cent while spacing births reduces the risks of infant death by up to 85 per cent,” she said.