NCD students join fight against virus

By SALLY TIWARI
STUDENTS in the National Capital District took a stand in the fight against HIV/AIDS during a rally at Jack Pidik Park in Port Moresby yesterday.
Themed “HIV/AIDS rally in the park”, the event was organised by HOPE worldwide (PNG) and funded by the national AIDS council.
It involved 26 schools including New Erima, Par Primary, Koki Vocational and St Peter’s Primary school students who wore red and took part in various activities such as drama performances, songs and speeches.
UNAIDS director Stuart Watson said seeing the students participate gave him hope as the first step to zero tolerance to HIV/AIDS was to understand the disease and how to contract or protect oneself against it.
He said their participation reflected their understanding of the issue.
Watson said the young people of PNG were the solution to achieving this year’s theme which is getting to zero, if they chose to be.
He challenged them to make smart decisions and be brave enough not to follow others in order to be popular.
HOPE worldwide country director Tessa Temata said they had conducted awareness in 41 schools in Port Moresby reaching about 12,000 students.