Morobe gears up for World AIDS day

COMMEMORATION of the World AIDS Day in Morobe has gained momentum with pre-awareness and other  mini  celebrations to begin tomorrow at various districts and in the city.
The pre-awareness campaigns at the nine districts in the province will be led by non-governmental organisations and church groups who are members of the Morobe provincial AIDS council.
The groups include Lutheran Life Care, Susu Mamas, provincial health division, Catholic HIV/AIDS office and other selected groups.
The national theme for the 2009 World AIDS Day is “Make HIV prevention, treatment, care and support accessible in PNG – It’s our right.”  
At a provincial AIDS council meeting yesterday at the Anglican Hauswin at Top Town, provincial AIDScoordinator Charles Pepe said allocation of funds to various groups had been finalized and some have received their share to kick start their activities leading up to the World AIDS Day.
He said the main event in Lae city would  be staged at the Niall Reserve at Eriku and would mostly involve setting up of information booths for the public.
Schools will also be taking part in marches with banners.
A guidance teacher at Bugandi and chairman of a newly set up Morobe schools HIV/AIDS awareness task force, Thomas Waeki  said more than 1,000 students from various schools would be taking part in the celebration.
He said the task force was initially set up to make awareness in schools and members consist of students and teachers from schools in the province.
Mr Pepe said companies were taking part and were already doing their own work place awareness and celebrations.