PNG to take new approach to tackle AIDS epidemic

Papua New Guinea  Health Department’s HIV programme manager, Dr Nick Dala, says the National HIV Strategy (NHS 2018-2022) will address the HIV epidemic in a more detailed approach.
Dala highlighted this during his presentation at the HIV summit for church leaders yesterday.
He said the strategy was still in the development stage.
“We must have values and principles that guide the National HIV Strategy and the National Health Plan, so some of the vital points that we are working with partners include the principles of universal health coverage,” Dala said.
“Health must be accessed by all as a basic human right, and promote good governance, stewardship and accountability.
“We must ensure that there is an integration of sections all across through appropriate health policies.
“We must promote human rights and gender equality especially with the health sector where stigma and discrimination by health workers towards members of the key population and key communities contribute to the big issue.”
He added that the new strategy would combine the success of previous milestone policies such as the National HIV Strategy (2011-2015) and National HIV Strategic Plan (2006-2010) and also accommodate for the new changes and challenges in the way the government and partners respond to HIV in the country.
He said few basic changes such as combined testing for tuberculosis and HIV in one clinic is one way of saving resources and also making it convenient for the public.
“We train tuberculosis clinicians to also conduct HIV testing for TB patients so in that way it saves costs and also TB patients are most likely to have HIV or vice versa.” The National/ PNG Today