Farmers learn of HIV/AIDS

 THE increase in income from cocoa production has resulted in an increase in people engaging in risky behaviour, an official says.

Martin Powell is the coordinator of the competitive grant scheme under the Productive Partnership in Agriculture project cocoa component.

He said that was why they had partnered with the East New Britain Red Cross Society branch, provincial AIDS Committee, NGIP Agmark and PNG Cocoa Board to train cocoa farmers to raise awareness on sexually transmitted diseases, HIV-AIDS, gender and other social issues. He told 68 trainers last Friday that in the economic sense, HIV/AIDS would affect human resources and in turn the supply of cocoa.

“The risks of increased income is the tendency to get involved in risky behaviour, such as consuming alcohol, going to clubs or drinking at home and going to clubs and in turn getting the deadly virus,” he said.

Powell said in ENB, there were 10 cocoa farmer groups with four in Bougainville.

ENB Red Cross chairman Dennison Kyvung said part of the capacity building in the project sites and among its smallholder farmers was social behaviour, relationship with locals, health and safety and awareness to reduce the risk of the HIV.

Meanwhile, health workers in ENB, especially those dealing with HIV/AIDS cases, have been urged to keep information on patients confidential. Sinivit Local Level Government president Boniface Gerep told 68 cocoa farmers who completed training on how to conduct HIV/AIDS awareness that confidentiality was vital to avoid stigma and discrimination.

He said some health workers breached their work ethics by giving out information on people living with