Global AIDS - Papua New Guinea

PNG Gov-Gen on 115 daily infections. Post-Courier - Pt Moresby - November 15, 2004

Statistics has revealed 17 per cent of sex workers in NCD are HIV/AIDS positive.

Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane attributed these statistics to the Institute of Medical Research.

Speaking at the Catholic Theological Institute graduation, Sir Paulias said there were 115 new infections a day in the country while 14 people with HIV/AIDS died every day at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) from opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis, kidney failure and malaria.

"There are impressive statistics that showed combined churches contributed just fewer than 50 per cent of all the health facilities available for the people, while in the remote areas one of the churches is the provider," Sir Paulias said.

He said together the churches provide 24 per cent of all health staff for the country.

He said Papua New Guinea was in the same boat as any other developing country and the church had a powerful message to give to the people about the meaning of sexuality and the nature of marriage.

Sir Paulias told the students that they had to take the responsibility to assist the churches to carry out awareness on the dreadful disease. He said the Port Moresby General Hospital reports from the Heduru clinic say one HIV/AIDS positive person dies everyday.

"The latest number of reported HIV/AIDS cases in PNG as reported by the National AIDS Council is 8262 of which three out of five people infected live in NCD," he said.