Global AIDS - Papua New Guinea

AIDS fight advocated - The National Newspaper – Pt Moresby, 27/09/04

A STRONG political will is needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea, says the nation’s leading political advocate on the issue.

Dr Banare Bun — the chairman of the Parliamentary HIV/AIDS Advocacy Group — said MPs need to take the lead in raising greater public awareness on what HIV/AIDS can do to Papua New Guinea.

“I intend to sensitise the 109 members of Parliament in the form of educating them, getting them to our meetings, getting the stakeholders to come and talk to them about the problem and what it can do to PNG,” Dr Bun said on return from an international conference of Members of Parliament in Bangkok Thailand. .

“They (members of Parliament) hear about it but we need to get them together, and in the next couple of months we hope to have a workshop so we get our colleagues to be involved and to be made aware of this issue.

“I think it needs to be brought home to them and they need to be reached on one-to-one basis.”

Eastern Highlands MPs are already taking the lead in this fight.

Dr Bun, who is the Member for Henganofi, said MPs from his province were very supportive.

“We put political differences aside and feel that this is a development issue and politics should not get in the way of our efforts to help our people,” he said.

“So, at least 90 per cent of the Eastern Highlands MPs have committed some funds but next year definitely there will be bigger funding from the district support grants to support the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

Dr Bun said in all public engagements, Eastern Highlands MPs allocated at least some time to talking about HIV/AIDS to the people.

“Whether it is opening of a school or church, we give some time to doing HIV/AIDS awareness to those present so that is a plus for the province,” he said.

“I give at least 30 to 40 per cent of the time at any ceremony I attend towards HIV/AIDS awareness.”

Dr Bun is also involved in the second phase of the United Nations Development Program-funded HIV/ AIDS Leadership Development Program now underway in Port Moresby this week.

Earlier at a weekend workshop for facilitators of the program, delegates from the Eastern Highlands Province spoke highly of the political support HIV/AIDS programs in the province received from the MPs and the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government.

It was also revealed at the workshop that the provincial government was providing a substantial financial grant towards the HIV/AIDS program in their province.

A memorandum of understanding has also been signed between the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government, the Provincial Aids Committee and the Leadership Development Program binding all parties to work together in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.

East Sepik delegates also reported similar support from national, provincial and local level government leaders in their province.

An agreement was also been signed between stakeholders in the province, including the Sepik Community Development Alliance, the churches, non-government organisations and the East Sepik Provincial Government in this fight.

Head of the Sepik Community Development Alliance Mary Soondrawu and chairman of the Provincial Aids Committee Clement Palme said the provincial government, local level governments and the public service administration in the province were totally committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

A major resource centre was about to be completed in Wewak which will boost the awareness and other HIV/AIDS activities in East Sepik.

Mr Palme said committees have also been set up in the districts to boost awareness at district level.

In contrast, Gulf Province had reported an alarming lack of political leadership and support for the HIV/AIDS programs in that province.