Global AIDS - Papua New Guinea

October, 2003 - A Chimbu warrior Princess wages war against HIV/AIDS
Story: Glenn Armstrong/Post-Courier. Photo credits: Richard Dellman/Advantage PNG

Last Saturday, October 18, in the sleepy town of Kundiawa, nestled in the mountains that house Papua New Guinea's highest peak, Mt Wilhelm, a brave 22 year old woman led her people to the local sports oval to declare war on an invisible, but very real enemy.

The enemy had already claimed too many of her countrymen. A silent killer that would easily send her people into confusion in attempting to find a reason, let alone find a cause and launch a counter-offensive.

HIV/AIDS is a disease that is only preventable - it can't be cured. In order to prevent the disease, people must be aware of how it can be transmitted. Awareness and knowledge are two important weapons in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

To defeat one's enemy, one must know the enemy. In Chimbu Province as in most parts of PNG, knowledge is gained more readily through word-of-mouth.

Daughter of Chimbu, Alice Solomon arrived last Saturday with that knowledge and an army of popular PNG icons and politicians to "spread the word, not the disease!" Her message was clear: "stopim AIDS nau".

Dr Sant-Rayn Pasricha

Alice is a 22 year old entrant in the popular Miss PNG Red Cross Charity Quest. The purpose of the Quest is to raise much needed funds for the PNG Red Cross to carry out its work. The young ladies taking part in the Quest raise up to as much as 40% of the funds needed to keep the PNG Red Cross running.

The Miss PNG Red Cross entrants use the opportunity to develop their social skills and networks. Through the course of the Quest, many of the young ladies become confident speakers and excellent role models in modern PNG society.

Alice is sponsored in the Quest by local hair and beauty salon, Trends, under the name of Miss Skala/evoluxe (Skala and evoluxe are two brands imported from Brazil by Trends)

 Alice Solomon is the first ever full-blooded Chimbu to take part in the Quest. Like many of here people, she lives in Port Moresby where she is completing her matriculation studies. When the opportunity arose to identify a reason for joining the Quest, Alice identified HIV/AIDS Awareness as an important function of the PNG Red Cross and a way she could help save lives, particularly those in Chimbu.

Alice is fortunate in that she knows enough about HIV/AIDS to understand the disease and she is in a position to do something about it. With the backing of her Committee, Alice wanted to create a big event in Kundiawa - something that would bring her people in from their villages so that she could deliver the word on HIV/AIDS.

When Kundiawa big man Joe Mek Teine heard of Alice's wish he immediately formed a Committee and enlisted the support of local business-houses and authorities. The local sports field was to be the venue of a day-long concert and rally. The grandstand was converted to a stage while sound equipment was trucked up the Highlands Highway from Goroka, courtesy of son-of-Chimbu Pat Siwi and his Kumul Studios.

Meanwhile, in Port Moresby, Alice's Committee had secured the support of the National AIDS Council and the use of PNG Airlines Charter to fly a 14-person contingent up to Kundiawa for the event. The charter flew into Kundiawa airport at 8.30am on the Saturday morning of October 18.

On the charter was popular PNG singer-songwriter Patti Potts Doi and his band. It was Potts' first ever performance in Chimbu where they had heard of the 'great man' but had never had the privilege of a live concert. Kick-boxing legend and PNG icon Stanley Nandex and his team were also on board. Nandex himself being a strong role-model in the HIV/AIDS Awareness campaign in PNG.

YUMIFM's Angra Kennedy, another son of Chimbu, was a popular choice as Master of Ceremonies for the concert. He didn't disappoint, as the young radio anouncer laced his introductions with strong, fighting words about HIV/AIDS.

The remainder of the PT Moresby contingent were media - there to witness a major victory in the war on AIDS.

Led by Alice Solomon, they stepped from the twin-Otter aircraft into perfect sunshine. It had been raining for three days leading up to the event and now, when it mattered most, the sun was shining.



At the Kundiawa Hotel, near the airport, the Governor of Chimbu, Alphonse Willie walked side-by-side with Alice Slomon and led the march down through the town towards the Dickson Oval, the venue of the rally.

The crowd which grew to around 20,000 people were not only given Chimbu's biggest ever concert, but they listened intently as powerful speeches were delivered by Governor Willie, MP Don Polye and AliceSolomon. Many of the audience took back posters and brochures, also warning of the enemy that is HIV/AIDS.

The Highlands people, including the Chimbus are well known as strong and brave fighters. The fight against HIV/AIDS is one that can and must be won. The disease has already claimed many lives. The Chimbu fighting spirit was evident last saturday and it certainly set a new benchmark in the war on HIV/AIDS in PNG.

Statement by Dr Ninkama Moiya
Director, National AIDS Council Secretariat, PNG.

" Since the first case of HIV was reported in Papua New Guinea in 1987, the reported cases have increased steadily over the years. The total number of cases reported as of the end of March, 2003, is 7,036 and it is estimated that about 100 new infections occur every month in PNG. It was estimated in 2000 that there may be 15,000 to 20,000 people infected by HIV in PNG, there are probably many more by now.

HIV is now reported from every province in the country, some from very remote places. It is now possible that one can know and hear of someone close to you who has died or is affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.

A recent surveillance report has shown that the concentration of infection is no longer in the so-called high risk population groups. The prevalence of HIV in the clients of Sexually Transmitted Infection clinics have gone above 5% and the prevalence of HIV in the pregnant mothers clinic in Port Moresby has reached 1%. This means that the epidemic is now generalised which essentially means that everyone is at risk and anyone can transmit or acquire the HIV infection.

HIV/AIDS has a lot of stigma and discrimination attached to the disease. It is therefore most encouraging to see young role models like Mr Stanley Nandex and Miss Alice Solomon come out and speak out about the dangers of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

People need to be educated to underatand the far reaching consequences of HIV/AIDS. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the two people for taking the bold step forward to asist in the fight aganst the epidemic. We salute you for your courage."


 

 

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