Provinces discuss HIV responses

 THE National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS) is consulting with provincial administrations on how best it can decentralise the HIV management and coordination functions to provinces. 

Consultation began recently at Kokopo, in East New Britain, and Kimbe, West New Britain. 

NACS director Peter Bire said some provinces had shown interest and the consultation was to assess their preparedness to take on the responsibilities of managing and coordinating the response for their provinces.

“We see their interest in owning the HIV response but it is important for provinces to understand that we are not dealing with a health issue only but a multi-sectoral approach that must be maintained,” Bire said.

“The response has to be owned by the provinces so it’s effective and sustainable.”

Secretariat deputy director Dr Moale Kariko  said the provincial response to addressing HIV must take into account  gender and  human rights issues as well as address the needs of the most-at-risk population such as sex workers, homosexuals and trans-genders.

In East New Britain, the secretariat team was informed that the provincial administration had created positions for a HIV coordinator and a monitoring and evaluation officer in the new provincial structure.

In West New Britain, the team was told that the provincial AIDS committee would come under the provincial health authority.