Westpac gives funds to fight HIV/AIDS

WESTPAC has donated K227,000 through its matching gifts programme to World Vision’s Positive Living Project phase three, an initiative aiming to reduce the number of new HIV and STI infections in the National Capital District.
“Through the programme, the bank doubles, dollar-for-dollar, all donations made by our employees in Australia,” Ashleigh Matheson, managing director of Westpac PNG, said.
“Our employees donated a record amount to World Vision last year, which we were pleased to match in full.
“It’s great to see these funds channelled into World Vision’s important initiative, which addresses one of the biggest health challenges facing Papua New Guinea: the spread of the HIV pandemic.
“Port Moresby has the highest HIV infection rate in the country. In the surrounding urban settlements, HIV infections are increasing among youths and pregnant women due to high unemployment, gender-based violence, illiteracy and other social causes.”
“Settlements in NCD lack the ability to help those infected and affected by HIV, and people living with HIV often face discrimination in their communities.”
World Vision’s Positive Living Project phase three runs until September 2015, having begun in October 2011.
Its goal is to significantly reduce new HIV, AIDS and STI infections in Port Moresby and improve quality of life for those infected and affected by HIV.
The project targets to achieve this in a number of ways, including:
l    Educating communities about the dangers associated with risky cultural practices, gender-based violence, gender-based vulnerability and HIV and AIDS;
l    Increasing accurate knowledge about HIV, AIDS and STIs through training and forums
l    Promoting safe sex through behaviour change campaigns carried out by youth with a focus on gender-based violence;
l    Using training and life skills programmes to empower adolescents, teenagers and young adults with the skills to make healthy life choices; and
l    Establishing HIV and AIDS committees, community health workers, site volunteers and community health-based clinics, building their capacity for HIV and AIDS care and advocacy.