HIV/AIDS in Australia

Aussie AIDS plan to benefit PNG: O’Keeffe - The National Newspaper – Pt Moresby, 13/09/04
By MARTINA DARIU

AUSTRALIA’S international HIV/AIDS strategy aims to reduce the spread of the virus and to ease the effects on its victims.

The strategy includes strengthening of leadership and advocacy drive, building capacity to promote the campaign, changing people’s behaviour towards the victims and supporting treatment and care.

The strategy has been introduced to Papua New Guinea by Australia’s newly appointed special representative – Ms Ann Maree O’Keefe – who met with various groups working on HIV/AIDS issues to explore ways to tackle the growing epidemic.

Ms O’Keefe has encouraged joint efforts from the business, political and community leaders in providing support and direction to the meet the HIV/AIDS threat to the country’s development prospects.

“PNG faces a huge challenge in dealing with the rapidly increasing number of HIV/AIDS infections. This must be address in a coordinated way, in partnership between all stakeholders including the PNG government,” she said.

“Here in PNG, the strategy looks at how we can use the aid programme through both existing and proposed activities and support, to strengthen key partnerships with individuals, organisation and institutes working in HIV/AIDS,” said Ms O’Keefe.

She noted that the country has the largest HIV/AIDS programme funded by the Australian government outside of Australia.

The programme is being funded with K120 million over five years.

Ms O’Keeffe also met with the parliamentary advocacy group on the HIV/AIDS health department, the National AIDS council, WHO, and representative from diplomatic missions.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Alexander Downer launched the strategy in Bangkok in July this year.