22nd August 2006: AIDS-Radio: Talk124-’06-32 “Four Corners Programme”

Good evening everyone. I am Fr. Jude OFM – a Franciscan priest - and welcome to: “Tok Stret long HIV/AIDS”.

This is our 124th talk and the 32nd for 2006 in the series “Tok Stret Long HIV/AIDS”.

Can we start with a prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, because of AIDS, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair – because of AIDS – let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness - because of AIDS - let me bring joy.

2: Story – School

Last week we talked about “Culture Carry-On ?” in which we referred to the “community”- in PNG as “the rogue – scoundrel – rascal – the trouble-maker” - and not so much the individual when it came to the spreading of HIV. We seemed to have got away with that statement. I wonder if our talk this week will further confirm that statement!

This week the title of our talk is: “Four Corners Programme”.

Did you see the Programme on Monday of last week? I did not see it live but had it recorded for me and have viewed it a couple of times since then. What did I think about it? Well, I better hold back for a bit and, firstly, tell our listeners what was in the Programme. It was called “Sick No Good”, and put together by a reporter named Matthew Carney. The title makes sense only when spelt in the Tok Pisin: “Sik Nogut”, which means a “bad/terrible/evil sick”. Maybe that was what was wrong with the whole program – the producers did not get it right! It was produced by strangers who never got the picture of PNG straight! If the programme was meant to give a true description of the HIV/AIDS situation in PNG, the Four Corners Programme failed to do that!

What was in the Programme?

First Port Moresby was described as one of the most dangerous cities in the world with “lawless suburbs and impoverished settlements” – a place of violence, controlled by rascal gangs, with unsafe sex and prostitution – an “ideal setting for the spread of HIV/AIDS”.

Well, there goes the PNG tourist promotion. The pictures presented, mostly night shots from a Police vehicle, would scare any tourist away. For the record, I live and work in the HIV/AIDS ministry in Port Moresby, and I get by!

Then there were the scare statements regarding of numbers of infections, possible infections, the economy, etc. which makes Africa look like “Paradise”. All scary stuff – with the punch line that somehow Australia has to pick up the pieces! For the record, Australia, for many years now, has called the shots on the response to the HIV epidemic in PNG! I think MR. Carney is saying that Australia has got it wrong – or not got it right!

Mr. Carney then gave us graphics and interviews to back up his statements. We had a visit to a “Rascal Gang” in Gerehu – an interview with “Gerry the pimp” in a night-club setting – a tour of Ward 4 B in Port Moresby General Hospital – a bird’s eye view of an overcrowded morgue - and an interview with the new Minister for Health, Peter Barter.

This was followed by a trip to the Highlands and another look at prostitution. In the Western Highlands we met Sr. Rose Bernard and we then met another Religious Sister who runs St. Joseph’s Haus Sik in Mingendi.

Then it was to Port Moresby again where we met Maura Mea – a PLWHA – who shared with us some of her own suffering and her efforts to change attitudes and behaviour in her community. And that’s it! Not only were the “Four Corners” of PNG not dealt with but major issues and key people involved in the HIV/AIDS ministry never got into the script.

Gerehu – 585 Rascal gang.

When I looked at these fellows – my first thought was that they were as nice a group of boys as you could find anyplace. They were portrayed as “rascals” – thieves and rapists, sexually promiscuous fellows who might all be HIV positive as they did not always use condoms. Some had been in prison.

As I watched the programme, one girl who grew up in Gerehu said she knew them all. She said: “When we were kids and our parents used to go to the village, those fellows looked after us. They were rascals then and they are still rascals, she said, laughing!” The impression given was that they were not too bad.

That Gerehu has never had HIV/AIDS awareness programs is a lot of rubbish. The people interviewed were well informed about HIV and AIDS. Both, the boys from the suburbs and the girl from the settlement, discussed the topic with the reporter. For the record, the Catholic Church has another program coming up with Youth from that area next month – funded by the National AIDS Council (NAC).

Mr. Carney, did you notice that the car-graveyard was full of very old and rusted wrecks – no recent ones! Did it never dawn on you that the boys might be setting you up?

Comment:

Four Corners was confused regarding the relationship between “suburban” and “settlement” life. The explanation lies in neither but in “village” life. Most of the people living in Port Moresby are from “the village”. Whether they live in the suburbs, with “Wantoks”(their own language group) or in the settlement does not matter or create a class distinction. Ministers of Government live in the settlements. The Speaker of the House lives in a settlement! Those who frequent hotels, bars and clubs can be from anyplace in POM. It is not correct to refer to the settlements as “broken-down communities” and about finding brothels at “the top end of town”. Town, actually, is reserved for Port Moresby itself. I presume you are referring to the night-clubs district in the Boroko – Gordons – Waigani triangle, where you will find ex-pats, Ministers of Government, big shots from all walks of life and “grassroots” mixing together!

Prostitution and the Sex Trade.

Does such a thing exist and, if so, to what extent?

Yes! The sex trade is rife and much that was reported is correct. We have a very big trade in sex – by male and female prostitutes. It was not mentioned who was behind the sex-trade!

I wish Mr. Carney had reported to the Australian public the part played by Australians in POM. Many male Australians – here for work – those who are not here for homosexual relationships - have a 16 year old girl in tow. The special Police force that came to PNG last year misbehaved as well! The ex-pats have their special clubs where they can pick up their sexual partners. I find them an absolute disgrace and wish the Australian High Commission would do something to control them.

It is very easy to say that “one third of all PNG women are subject to sexual assault”. I would love to know where that figure came from! In fact, the Report was very thin on hard facts. It was more like a rambling list of fault-finding about PNG.

Sexual activity in PNG is very complex and it is very difficult to find out what is going on. There are different degrees and arrangements regarding the procuring of sex in PNG – something I spoke of at length of before on this program. It is not as straightforward as prostitutes for sale for a price. Mr. Carney, on a flying visit to PNG, obviously was unaware of this! It is not just as simple as police the brothels or close the brothels. Officially, brothels don’t exist!

There are laws in PNG for everything but the number of active laws is another question. There are many “arrangements” for the buying and selling of sex. Sometimes this is done by pimps, by community leaders, by family members, or by individuals. For instance, at a particular time of the year, a major problem in POM is school girls selling sex so that they can get enough money for school fees! Housewives do part-time sex work in order to keep food on the table. At particular “festive” occasions there are other arrangements and understandings regarding sex. Then, of course, there are young girls and boys, and maybe not so young, who are attracted to the sex trade – attracted by the quick money, the hotels and night club life and being sought after and entertained by a “big man”. The young girl – “Mary” in the Highlands brothel, said in language: “we are not interested in young boys – we want ‘big men’. “ Mary is after the money and wants to be seen with ‘big shots’. I find that most sex workers have their “excuse” for being in the business. Mary and Jessica had their’s, which was family breakdown!

I loved Mary’s T-shirt with “Merry Christmas” on the back! I wonder who was having the last laugh?

That the sex trade is rife on the Highlands Highway and in the major cities and towns – there is no doubt. Mr. Carney missed the cultural side of things, which I spoke about for the last two weeks on this Program. There are festivals, in different parts of the country, which can end up in sex free-for-alls. We are very worried about these “cultural events”.

But then again, you have them in Australian society – the Mardi Gras in Sydney being just one! And let’s not forget King’s Cross in Sydney – The Valley in Brisbane – and Kalgoorlie etc. Sufficient to say that Australia has its own problems to contend with regarding all sorts of sexual permissiveness, violence towards women and in society in general, and the spread of HIV/AIDS. It is on the increase in Australia!

Ward 4B.

“Patients only come here when close to death.” That is not true! I know many people, and many with AIDS, who have walked out of Ward 4B and are fit and well today.

Ward 4B is a “Medical Ward”. It is not a HIV ward. It is a ward – like 4A – where testing is done to find out what illness a person may have. Of the 64 beds in that ward – about 20-30 would be HIV related at any one time. That is a worrying figure as is 250 new HIV cases per month given by Dr. Bunare Bun. The other patients in Ward 4B have sickness which is not HIV related!

The medical system of care, in all the wards, is that family members stay in the ward with the patients and assist them with meals, washing and general care. You will always have a family carer with a patient 100% of the time! It is not like Australia where the family sleeps at home and the nursing staff care for the sick in hospital.

The story as presented through the mouth of the patient Louis was not correct. His family must be embarrassed by this presentation. His family did visit him in hospital. Louis has since passed from this life, on 16th August. May he rest in peace!

One rule we have in PNG, and follow, is that you are not allowed to reveal the identity of HIV positive people. Four Corners broke that rule when it not only showed the faces of people – but gave their names and interviewed their family members. Added to that was the implication that because a person was in Ward 4B they were probably HIV positive. These people will be in trouble with their families when the program is aired in PNG! Four Corners could be prosecuted, in PNG, for what they have done!

Ray of light!

Sr. Rose Bernard is doing a marvellous job at the “grassroots” level as is the Sr. in Mingendi Haus Sik. There is a twin approach to HIV/AIDS in PNG. That is of “prevention” and “care”. There are thousands of these programs – by individuals, organizations, Church groups and NGO’s going on around the country. The National AIDS Council, with the Health Department and Government coordinates the work. The Four Corners program missed all of this!

The Minister of Health – Peter Barter – is new in the job. Yes, the Health Department is struggling to provide basic services throughout the country and HIV just complicates the whole health issue. Since he took over the Health portfolio (a few months back), the Minister has set up a special “Task Force” to get the Health problems sorted out. Good work is being done – so let’s not blame the Minister.

Regarding the ARV’s, yes there are about 600 people on them at present and many more are waiting to get on the drugs. But we do not have the capacity to deliver. It is not just a matter of dishing out pills. There is a whole process to be followed before people are allowed on the drugs – and “adherence”, that people take the drugs correctly, is a key issue. We cannot allow people to become immune to these drugs because if we do then we will not have any drugs. Just think back at what happened to penicillin in PNG! But, yes, we can do a lot better at getting people on ARV’s and supporting them when they are on them. We are working on this!

Reaction to the Program

Maureen Geruwa, writing in the POM Post Courier on Wednesday, August 16, with the heading: “ABC feature riles people” said:

“A documentary on HIV/AIDS being shown on Australian Broadcasting Corporation television on Monday has angered some Papua New Guineans….[It] has been described by these concerned Papua New Guineans as ill-conceived and biased because it does not show the work that is being done in the country to tackle the epidemic. Two women from the National AIDS Council…said it seemed that the reporter had made up his mind what he wanted to cover and came in and spoke only to certain people with no consideration of talking to experts on the issue….There is a lot of good work going on, including intervention programs but those were not mentioned.” That Port Moresby was ruled by gangs was also disputed.

Comment:

I watched the Program with some patients, many who are on ARV’s, and some of our Staff members. We had planned to view the video and then celebrate two birthdays. We have travelled together over the years. We know the suburbs of Pom and what life is like in the “ settlements”. Many have survived time spent in Ward 4B. We all have memories of who was in what bed at what time. Ward 4B, in some ways, is sacred territory. After viewing the video, I felt as if I had been, as the Aussies say, “kicked in the guts”. There was a silence after the viewing and the birthday celebrations were very flat.

Sensational stuff – headline grabbing – unsubstantiated statements – pre-judged – using PNG to make its own statements.

That is not the POM I live in and is not the HIV/AIDS ministry I work in. Mr Carney, people in PNG tend to say to reporters what the reporters want them to say. I was asked by Mr. Carney to be interviewed and refused. Why? Because, as I told him, I am fed up with reporters who come here with pre-conceived ideas and with pre-prepared messages to give and use us as a conduit to make their own biased and unsubstantiated statements!

From your reporting, you missed out on the work being done in PNG. The work of the National AIDS Council – the Parliamentary Committee headed by Dr Bunare Bun – the work of the Health Department, by the Secretary Nicholas Mann and the Health Minister Peter Barter – the National, Provincial and Local Government initiatives regard the HIV epidemic – the Work being done by the Social Services Minister, Dame Carol Kidu - the work being done by the many NGO’s – the very extensive work being done by the Churches. Four Corners missed a great story of human endeavour and endearment in the midst of great confusion and suffering. Four Corners got it wrong and that is their own fault. Next time, I suggest they try humility with an open mind and heart, and let the people speak to you. PNG is a great school!

Many working and Good Work is being done.

For our listeners! Much work is being done throughout the country in the HIV/AIDS ministry. Now, I know we have many problems. Attitudes and behaviour in sexual matters needs correcting and we do have major social problems which promote the spread of the HIV virus. Our Health system is not good and we are very poor in caring for PLWHA. We can and must do a lot better. But, are we making any progress? Let me share something with you. We are doing renovations at Simon of Cyrene Centre at Hohola. We opened the Centre in 2000. If I compare what was being done in the year 2000 – to what was done in 2003 – to what is being done in 2006 – all I can see is progress. No longer is it a case of a “lone ranger” trying to do everything but hundreds of people involved and responding. But, of course, at the same time the HIV virus is spreading at epidemic proportions. We tend to lose heart because of that! But, if you understand how the virus works – the numbers have to keep going up and up. The HIV numbers are going to keep going up until 2010 – even if we all get it right and do not spread anymore virus from today on. As I keep saying – the HIV virus has been planted in bodies and it must run its natural course. Unfortunately, we have no way of eliminating the virus from the body! So the numbers will keep rising!

I live with people – many of whom are HIV positive. It’s tough and the going gets very hard at times. But with everyday there is a new dawn. Even after the heaviest rain you can find a rainbow. God is good and people are beautiful whether HIV enters the equation or not. And, what about PNG? Most people who come here – and give it a bit of time - fall in love with the people and the country. The HIV sick is “Nogut” – but the people of PNG are beautiful!

More next week!

Personal Prayer:

Lord, I am in danger!
HIV/AIDS is in the community, it is in Papua New Guinea.
I am afraid! I don’t want to get this terrible virus!
Help me so that I behave myself and do not take any risks.
Help me also to be responsible so that I am not a risk to others.
Give me the compassion to go to those who are in need of help,
the strength to care for those who are suffering,
and the love to be understanding and forgiving.
And if I become HIV positive, bless my life with people who will care and love me. I make this prayer to Jesus, my Saviour, who was a friend to the sick, the sinner, to those who suffered, and to all who came to him. My friend! Amen.