Organisations in HIV care, response must strengthen partnerships: Dame Carol

National, Normal
Source:

ALISON ANIS

COMMUNITY Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu has called for strong partnership and integration between organisations and Government agencies involved in HIV/AIDS care and response.
“As partners in responding and giving care to those with HIV, we must focus in
strengthening or re-empowering household units through having an integrated approach that was committed to supporting existing community home-based programmes,” Dame Carol said.
She said this when delivering a keynote address at the celebration of the world hospice and palliative care day organised by Family Health International (FHI) in PNG.
FHI organised a one-day seminar at Holiday Inn with key partners like the Health Department, National AIDS Council Secretariat, NCD AIDS committee, NGOs, faith-based organisations and community homed-based groups as part of the celebration of the day which falls on Oct 10 each year.
Dame Carol commended community home-based care givers for bringing their service right to homes and called on government and development agencies to recognise their work and help strengthen their response.
FHI country director Nayer Kaviani said this was the second time for PNG to join rest of the world to mark observe the world hospice and palliative care day.
“Such partnerships will strengthen our capacities and resources to deliver quality interventions and services for our beneficiaries,” Ms Kaviani said.
She said based on this year’s global theme “discovering your voice” a number of events comprising concerts, education event, and public awareness activities have been organised globally to mark the significance of this day.
“Hospice and palliative care is about improving the quality of life for those with advanced diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer or heart diseases.
“It is about care for the sick people who won’t get better and the ones that medicine cannot cure,” Ms Kaviani said.