Workshop: Two people die daily from HIV/AIDS

By LULU MAGINDE
TWO people die each day from HIV/AIDS from an estimated 55,000 living with the disease in Papua New Guinea.
Most of these people are kept alive by anti-retroviral therapy (ART).
In a workshop hosted by the National AIDS Council Secretariat (Nacs), in partnership with the Health Department, KP Consortium and other non-government organisation partners, presentations were made on key statistics and an update on the activities of World AIDS Day.
“We have about 65 per cent of all people living with HIV on treatment, that is why we are now seeing a decrease in deaths from HIV,” acting director for the Nacs Tony Lupiwa said.
Lupiwa labelled ART as a major preventive strategy and stressed the need for those who had tested positive to receive free treatment and for those who think are at risk to get tested.
Held in preparation for World AIDS Day, which was yesterday (Dec 1), the workshop addressed key issues that the council faced, their funding and budget over the past four years and new programmes or policies planned to be introduced in the coming year.
Themed “Ending HIV: Equal access, our voice”, the main speakers from agencies addressed two major issues in combating the pandemic; lack of access to services and a lack of funding.
Lupiwa, in a press conference during the workshop, emphasised the need to be tested and that treatment was available and free.
“If you receive treatment, you can continue to be healthy and live a normal life because it can prevent you from dying,” he said.
“The signs and symptoms of HIV all depend on your immune system.”