PNG sees doubling of HIV cases

PAPUA New Guinea has reached a pivotal stage where the number of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections per day had almost doubled in a year, says National Aids Council Secretariat acting director Tony Lupiwa.
Lupiwa said about 10 new infection cases recorded in a day in 2021 had now gone up to 18 as of last year which accumulated to 6500 new infections for that year (2022) compared to 3800 in 2021 with the estimated total of 72 000 person living with HIV throughout the country.
“These figures are starting and are sounding the alarm bell for PNG not to be complacent anymore but holistically in whichever communities we represent, whether the business community, church, public sector, sporting, or any small hamlets where we live in,” he said.
“We all need to take action to halt new infections among our key population groups, priority population like pregnant mothers, young women and girls and the general population at large.”
Lupiwa said this during the World Aids (acquired immunodeficiency virus) Day commemoration on Friday to reflect on the disease and to raise awareness that HIV was present and was on the rise as the people needed to protect themselves from getting infected.
He said the World Aids Day message to everyone was “HIV is on the rise again in PNG” and as communities, everyone must take lead in HIV presentation, testing and treatment.
He said for prevention, people should take heed of the number of presentation measures that were available to protect themselves from being infected with HIV.
“Treatment itself is prevention,” he said.
“If they are on treatment, it suppresses their viral load and there is limited chance of them passing on the virus to their sexual partner.
“We are encouraging women who are pregnant to get a HIV test.”