Morobe AIDS committee let us down, claims group

A GROUP of HIV positive people are not happy with the operations of the Morobe provincial AIDS committee (PAC).
Morobe Network of Positive Living (MNOPL) chairman Rodney Mukinere said on two occasions Morobe PAC “let them down” by not properly organising their workshops.
“In 2007 during home-based care training, we had to look for our own accommodation for two weeks to attend this training and participants came as far as Markham.”
Last week, the participants of a peer education workshop, who were all members of MNOPL, boycotted the workshop because they were not given adequate incidentals and meals.
In a letter addressed to the HIV response coordinator of Morobe PAC, Charles Pepe, Mr Mukinere said the committee did not discuss with the executives of MNOPL before applying for funding for their training.
The Nov 10 letter said “participants’ allowances, stationery and meals had not been properly budgeted”.
According to a participant Anton Tom, the peer education workshop was postponed since last Oct 19.
“We (PLWHA) need this training so we can effectively advocate to our peers.
“We should not be treated like this because I believe we are the most effective means of advocating the prevention message,” Mr Tom said.
Mr Pepe could not be contacted for comment.