Focus on vulnerable

By FREDAH TAIMBARI
WORKING with key affected populations more vulnerable to contracting HIV will be a priority for the New Guinea Islands region’s response to HIV/AIDS for the next three years.
That was among issues discussed during a three-day HIV Regional Forum for the NGI region in Kokopo, East New Britain, last week.
Speaking at the forum, National AIDS Council Secretariat deputy director Dr Moale Kariko said the key affected populations included women, youth, sex workers and trans-gender people were and were among the vulnerable group and that all organisations  involved in  HIV programmes  in the country should work with to reduce further transmission of HIV in Papua New Guinea.
“These are the group of people who are most at risk. We have to work with them and not develop HIV programmes without engaging them in our planning, policy decisions,” Kariko said.
“Our statistics tell us that the age group between 15 and 25 years are getting infected so who are we targeting in our programmes. 
“We have to talk to our young people and work with them because these are our problem age group.”
Other critical issues that were discussed were increasing the number of HIV testing sites, particularly in the districts and the importance of having more people with HIV on antiretroviral treatment.
The forum identified the main drivers of the epidemic in the region and how these could be addressed. 
These factors common in all NGI provinces include multiple sexual partners, stigma and discrimination, gender inequality, high population mobility caused by economic boom, drugs and alcohol abuses.
It was reported that while there had been an increase in the number of condoms distributed annually, people still lacked the knowledge on correct and consistent use of condoms.