Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

Media Release 071206

MEDIA RELEASE

7 December 2006

For immediate release

PNG AND AUSTRALIA STAND TOGETHER TO FIGHT HIV

 

Leaders from Papua New Guinea and Australia joined together during National AIDS Week to sign an agreement marking the start of Sanap Wantaim (Stand Together), the new Australian Government program of support to fight HIV/AIDS in PNG.

Sanap Wantaim will support the PNG Government to lead a strong and coordinated response to the epidemic, as outlined in the PNG National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS.

This will include community mobilisation for an expanded prevention effort, addressing gender issues and violence against women, promoting leadership on HIV/AIDS issues at every level in PNG, developing a much better evidence-base for action, and strengthening the health sector.

The Australian Government has committed more than K200 million kina ($A100 million) over the next five years to fund Sanap Wantaim.

Additional funding will also be provided through the health sector to fight the spread of the HIV epidemic.

Sanap Wantaim will build on the achievements of the previous six-year K130 million kina ($A65 million) Australian Government program of support, the National HIV and AIDS Support Project (NHASP) which finishes this month.

NHASP achievements include a network of Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres, thousands of people trained in basic HIV awareness and counselling, passing of the HIV/AIDS Management and Protection Act (HAMP) which protects the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, the set-up of Provincial AIDS Committees in every province, the training of 620 health workers, and the opening of 17 community care centres for HIV positive people.

“The new program will support the National AIDS Council Secretariat and Provincial Governments and will be delivered through PNG Government and non-government organisations”, said Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Mr Chris Moraitis. “The focus is on building skills and knowledge within these institutions to fight HIV”.

He commended the PNG Government for increasing its commitment to achieving universal HIV/AIDS treatment targets.

 

Media Inquiries: Anna Awasa, AusAID Public Affairs, Ph: 325 9333 ext 304,
Mobile: 693 1097