Digging deep to fight AIDS

RETIRED nurses from Western Highlands province are digging deep into their pockets to sustain their fight against HIV/AIDS.
The former nurses decided to do something worthwhile after retirement and formed the Wansa Home Care centre
Last Friday, a total of 25 trainees graduated with certificates in Introduction to HIV/AIDS, after a week-long workshop, and pledged to join in the fight against the spread of the disease.
The graduates were made up of the nurses, other former public servants, and their children, and will be addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS on a person to person basis by visiting the patients at their homes.
Wansa director Mary Waninara said AIDS was now a pandemic and difficult to curb.
“It should no longer be seen as a sexually transmitted disease but a threat to society. It is a difficult task, especially when we are not being funded and are using our own money as volunteers,” she said.
“Dealing with human beings and their attitude is a tough job that needed discipline, patience and all efforts,” she said.
Former provincial AIDS council chairman Siba Tailapu told the graduates they were the tools that could make a difference.
“Work in the families and communities because HIV/AIDS is eating away the fabric of families,” he said.