HIV/AIDS kills 3 daily: Doc

The National Main Stories

THREE people are dying every day from HIV/AIDS while the coronavirus is yet to claim a life in PNG, National Aids Council director Dr Nick Dala says.
“While billions of kina is already spent in six months on the coronavirus with no life lost, HIV although claims just over a 1,000 lives every four weeks, gets no billions from the Government which gets billions from donor funding agencies,” he said.
Dr Dala said there were 80,000 confirmed HIV cases in PNG with 1,095 people dying every month.
The coronavirus is six months old in PNG while HIV/AIDS is 25 years old, he said.
“Where people gathered together, it is always a good avenue to spread the message of HIV awareness, therefore, I am here among you smallholder coffee growers association to spread a bit of this message,” he said.
Dr Dala was at KMR village in Chuave, Chimbu, on Friday during the launch of PNG Smallholder Coffee Growers’ Association coffee seedling project.
He said in PNG there was a big problem with HIV/AIDS.
“The coronavirus came six months ago and the Government put billions of kina into it,” he said.
“HIV has been here more than 25 years, PNG Government did not put billions, but donor agencies put billions.”
Dr Dala said people heard every day news on the coronavirus but no one had died.
“As the head of the National Aids Council and specialist doctor for HIV/AIDS, I want to tell you now that everyday three people are dying and seven people are being infected. It is a serious problem, no one die from the coronavirus yet,” he said.
Dr Dala addressed Daulo MP Pogio Ghate, who was there to raise the issue in Parliament and inform the house of the current scenario.
“As a community and country, we have to support each other, Government may change but the plans and goals of the Government will remain the same,” he said.
“We have the right to remain healthy and wealthy as per the Government plans.
“Children must eat properly and should not be sick, Government sectors can work on their own but at some juncture they will come together so collectively that we have to have a unified response to achieve our goals and ambitions,” he said.
Dr Dalla urged everyone to think out of the box and avoid negativity.
“When you are busy planting coffee, think about your health as well, otherwise when coffee is ready in June and you die from AIDS, think of your health, look after your health, stay longer,” he said.

12 comments

  • Well said Dr Dala. Seeing the amount of money poured into this COVID 19 both from the government as well as overseas governments and donor agencies, people who are spear heading this lockdown are using this excuse to lure money for their own gain. It hasn’t killed anyone yet and that is the fact. This disease is here to stay, just like HIV/AIDS, but not like HIV/AIDS, where there is no cure. Fully support your statement

  • Dr Dala, and other Papua New Guinean doctors, can you really investigate these pandemic the World is advocating? Is it HIV killing people or the ARV killing people. We cannot be takers of information for all these donkey years. Try and have some real research into these two pandemic.
    COVID 19 – typical flu and with advance stages caught. Can the good doctor like Dr. Dala and any other doctors, please research, and be the champion of these two pandemic… I cannot bear it when our doctors like any other fields are takers of what has been provided then to do it ourselves.
    I don’t to hear the crab about we don’t have research facility, equipment, tools whatsoever, because if Australia has it, then we can ask them for this cause.
    I am hearing, the same guy called Dr. Anthony Faucci was the same guy in 1983-84 who promoted the HIV AIDS cure ARV and the same guy is surfacing in these COVID 19 pandemic.
    Doctors of PNG, please tell us the real truth and PMJM, Enough of being FED by WHO, the UN, AusAID like the COVID 19…. Let’s help this young country correctly and the right way. We should not be spoon fed but do research ourselves.

  • Dr Dala well said. While whole Funds for the country are sucked up in the name of Novel Corona Virus by people like BERMUDA TRIANGLE with no trace. Our dangerous and dreadful Diseases will no doubt be on the raise. Not only HIV/AIDS but TB, Malaria and etc. Can we start a NEW NORM from there.

  • People get infected with HIV Aids because they go and look for it. They reap what they sow. However, Corona Virus looks for people to infect so we have the control measures such as social distancing in place. Also in HIV And STD, people pay for it, then get infected.

    • Brother you see one side of the coin and failed to consider the other. People come from different backgrounds and settings. May be they get infected because they were looking for money to meet their end needs. If PNG can cater for the welfare and wellbeing of all PNGeans then your point is very true.
      Therefore, it is not time to play blame game but seriously berg the government to support agencies playing pivotal role to lower the rate of HIV Prevalence in our Country.

  • Just one thought: Read an article about prostitutes in Africa and the exposure to HIV and AIDS, after much survey and testing, doctors found out that our immune system has some level of immunity to AIDS, which mean if you have sex with someone who has HIV AIDS for the first time, your immune system can fight it off, and creates antibodies to defend you from AIDS, but after these protective antibodies created by your immune system wear-off, you’ll be at high risk. Just a piece of advise to people having unprotected sex with acquaintances, or short time friends. You may not get affected the first time, but keep at it and you’ll definitely get affected as there are many HIV AIDS patients walking freely among us today kept alive by ARV.

  • HIV/AIDS! The virus gets to be transmitted from one person to another by ones own choice unlike COVID-19, where anyone person is at a high risk of getting infected.

    However, the money being founded into whatever it is the government think they are trying to do for the people are all bullshits. Come to think of it, no proper checks are done at the airport. All you need to do is fill out some forms, get temperate check, hand wash with sanitizer and that’s it, you are cleared to go.

    I just don’t understand!

  • I concured with Dr. Dala. The PNG HIV prevalent rate is higher in the region and many lives have been taken by this incurable virus.
    It is very important for the governmnet to secure more funding for HIV/AIDS because if there is going to be a worst hit in the country, the PLHIVs (People Living with HIV) are at the greater risk to be killed and the they will be counted in for covid-19 death statistic for PNG.
    If PNG wants to mantain zero covid-19 death, it must first make sure HIV Programs are adequately funded and PLHIV’s health are optimized.

  • Well said Dr Dalla. It’s about time for people at your calibre to put things in perspective

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