HIV rate rising steadily

AMORE than 100,000 people in Papua New Guinea are living with HIV/AIDS and the rate is increasing steadily every year. This is the latest estimated figures released by the National AIDS Council Secretariat with the actual figure believed to be three or four times the estimated figure.

The latest statistics were extracted by the National AIDS Council secretariat with assistance from World Health Organisation through estimate procedural researches, which were completed early this year. Deputy director of NACS Dr Romanus Pikung and Dr John Millan of the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS), while presenting the statistics on Friday during the PNG Social Workers national symposium in Port Moresby, said the real figure stood at three or four times the estimated number. Dr Pikung said the actual figure also showed in a graph that HIV/AIDS cases in the country were climbing steadily.

“But the possible actual figure is three, four or even five times the estimated figure because those interviewed to get the estimate figure said they have multiple sexual partners,” Dr Pikung said. “During the course of finding the estimate figure, nearly all the people interviewed said they have multiple sexual partners and it is really scary when we think of how many people with the virus are living in the country and possibly passing the virus,” he said.

Dr Pikung said the most affected group were young girls and women and older men above the age of 35. “Many young women and girls are living with the virus while there is also an increasing number of men above the age of 40,” Dr Pikung said. Graphs shown by Dr Millan showed that an increasing number of girls as young as 14 to 19 years were the most affected,” Dr Millan said. “It is evident the older men are buying sexual favour from young girls and women.” He added that married men and women are not using condoms during sex with other sexual partners. The PNG social workers symposium was aimed at discussing the work of social workers.