HIV/AIDS needs more attention

It is very frustrating for HIV-AIDS patient to travel from as far as up in the mountains of Bilimoiya or Titokave in Kamano No. 2 LLG to Kainantu to look for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs.
Patients take hours to walk and spend a lot of money to travel on PMVs to the White House Clinic in Kainantu only to find that ART stock is limited and they cannot therefore get their monthly buffer stock as required.
Eastern Highlands is one of the top provinces in administering HIV treatment, but still has to source supplies from the Area Medical Store in Port Moresby.
The two major referral ART clinics are Michael Alpers, in Goroka, and White House, in Kainantu.
Eastern Highlands has satellite ART clinics in all eight districts with fulltime staff.
As one of the clinicians and providers, I would like to remind the authorities responsible in Port Moresby to leave their comfortable chairs and be available at all times to screen orders and pack drugs on time to be sent out.
Remember that HIV/AIDS is a disease which must be attended to. They must make it a habit to check regularly each provincial centre and provincial disease control officer to make sure every clinic has stock.
I am appealing to National AIDS Council Secretariat, Secretary for Health and Minister for Health to critically look into this frequent sort-supply issue in Eastern Highlands.
I feel that other provinces and ART clinics in the country are facing the same problem.
The supplier must be up-to-date with all provincial and district ART order and supplies.
If the contractor is failing clinics and clients, get a contractor which can effectively deliver this life-saving service for our Papua new Guineans.

Hanema Lutton