AIDS warning
Highlands leaders call for condom, nightclub ban

By FREDDY GIGMAI
HIV/AIDS was spreading rapidly in Papua New Guinea and it was estimated that two percent of the adult population could be infected with the virus; the Australian High Commissioner to PNG Michael Potts warned.

Mr Potts said HIV/AIDS had the potential to cripple PNG’s economic and social prospects within the next 10-15 years if present infection trends in the country continued.

He said although PNG had some major achievements in response to HIV like the high level of awareness, the enactment of HIV/AIDS Management and Prevention Law in 2004, and establishing special parliamentary HIV/AIDS Committee, many challenges still remained.
The PNG AIDS Council said at least 69,000 had been infected in PNG since the first case was reported in 1987, but many experts believed more than 30,000 could have HIV.

High Commissioner Potts said issues like the low status of women, gender violence, and income inequalities as well as drug and alcohol abuse increased individuals and community vulnerability to AIDS.

“Over 70 percent of infections in 15-24 year olds are in young women and many people living with HIV are still subject to stigma and discrimination in PNG,” said Mr Potts.

High Commissioner Potts made these remarks in Port Moresby on Friday when presenting two cheques totalling K11,150 to two charity groups involved in the fight against AIDS, Igat Hope and Salvation Army at the Australian High Commission Office.

At the same presentation ceremony, the PNG Rugby Football League also presented a K10,000 cheque to Anglicare Stop Aids, another organisation that was involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

PNGRFL deputy chairman Albert Veratau said rugby league was a national sport and it could become a very important tool to use in the fight against AIDS in the country.
Monies presentation to the three charity organisations were raised during a charity auction held during the 30th Independence Rugby League match between PNG Prime Minister’s XIII and an Australian Kangaroos select side.

Meanwhile, Councillors from the Dei District of Western Highlands province wanted the sale and distribution of condoms to be banned in PNG.
The leaders are from the electorate that Health Minister Melchoir Pep represents in Parliament.

After concluding a HIV/AIDS leadership training workshop in their village, the leaders came up with a draft of recommendations which they hoped the National Government would take seriously.

The 53 councillors argued that the promotion of condom use in the media was encouraging rather than discouraging activities that help the rapid spread of the AIDS virus.

They said people see the promotion of condoms by government agencies as a license to engage in prostitution and adultery.

They said the attitude was wrong but as long as condom was used, it was okay to engage in these acts.

They said this attitude was leading to the rapid increase in infections in towns and rural areas alike.

In their draft resolution, the leaders also called for:

* Guided democracy form of government as the current system was allowing too much freedom;

* Complete liquor ban as in most cases people got involved in sexual activities after a drinking binge;

* Ban of night clubs in towns and cities as they were the hot spots for the spread of AIDS;
* Introducing the Vagrancy Act to put the brakes on the rural-urban drift;
* Ban on pokies and horse race games;
* Compulsory blood tests for young couples before marriage;
* All marriages ceremonies to be conducted in the church;
* Polygamy to be outlawed; and
* Removal of squatter settlements as these were the breeding grounds of all evil activities, including the increase of HIV/AIDS.

Their recommendations were presented to the Western Highlands Provincial AIDS Council chairman Reverend James Koi.

Rev Koi told them that a five-year HIV/AIDS response plan for the province would be unveiled on World Aids Day on Dec 1.