Papua New Guinea Tops HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rate in the Pacific Region

 Papua New Guinea  tops HIV and AIDS prevalence rate with 3300 people being infected yearly or 9 people being infected daily, according to FHI360 Deputy Chief of Party Dr Poruan Temu.

He said there are 52, 000 people living with HIV and AIDS in the country. 

"Of this, between 6000 to 7000 persons living with HIV and AIDS in NCD. 80 percent of them are on Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) in the city. We have managed to contain it to manageable level, thanks to NCD PHA and other stakeholders," he said.

Dr Temu was speaking this morning at the end of the weekly Walk and Yoga for life program, led by NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop, at the Seapark Bazaar along the Paga Hill Ring road. 

The program was dedicated to commemorate World Aids Day which falls on December 1st. It should be have been marked last Sunday but the date fell on Monday.

He said NCD has made remarkable progress but challenges still remain. 

"We (FHI360) have initiated a U=U campaign. The first U stands for Undetectable and the second U stands for Untransmittable. When the virus enters your body, it multiplies and makes ones body vulnerable to other diseases like TB and others. When you are on medicine regularly, HIV population in ones body decreases to undetectable level. It does not mean HIV has become negative. It is still present but undetectable. It means ART works well in ones body. 

"New arrival of ART in the country is body friendly where ones body is in good form and looks healthy," he said.

The virus is with us but there are ways to reduce its prevalence, he said. 

"We should support and care for persons living with HIV and AIDs so they can be on ART," he said.

 He commended Active City Development program for the partnership to create more awareness on reduction of HIV and AIDS.

Statement

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