Every day should be World AIDS Day, says Tubal

WORLD AIDS Day should be commemorated every day in order to find practical means and ways in the fight against HIV/AIDS, East New Britain administrator Akuila Tubal said.
Speaking during the launch of the World AIDS Day programme for the province yesterday, Tubal urged all provincial teams attending the PNG Games to join and take part in the marches that were organised for Kokopo, Rabaul and Gazelle to commemorate the day on Saturday.
The provincial theme to mark the day is “Getting to zero – zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths and uniting East New Britain against AIDS”.
“Let us hold hands together to make every day a World AIDS Day and getting to zero through practical ways and means,” he said.
Tubal said World AIDS Day was an opportunity for everybody nationwide and all leaders to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS in order to show support for people living with HIV/AIDS and remember those who have died.
“You and I can participate in various ways on this occasion.
“We can invite resourceful people to provide the basic facts about HIV/AIDS and issues related to it and put that knowledge into preventative actions to reaching the three zeros.
“If you and I understand how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and how it can be prevented and the reality of living with HIV/AIDS today, then we can use that knowledge to take care of our own health and health of others and ensure everyone living with HIV/AIDS is treated fairly with respect,” he said.
Tubal said the public needed to remember the importance of raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and its deeply rooted causes in order to find better ways of eradicating it.