23 March, 2013
Stop TB in my Lifetime: Australian Ambassador for TB joins PNG Commemorations
Every year World TB Day is commemorated on March 24 to remember those who have died of TB and to increase public awareness about the disease. This year’s theme for World TB Day is: “Stop TB in my Lifetime”.
As the world prepares to commemorate the day, the Governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the disease in the country.
In marking the event, Australia’s Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, James Gilling has joined in World TB Day Commemorations in Port Moresby.
Ambassador Gilling along with Australia’s new High Commissioner to PNG, Deborah Stokes, PNG Health Department Secretary Pascoe Kase, health officials, bureaucrats, corporate houses and the public took part in a walkathon aimed at increasing public awareness and promoting the prevention of TB in PNG.
The walk from Jack Pidik Park to Sir John Guise Stadium concluded with speeches and a minute’s silence to remember those who have died from TB, those who were sick or are sick and those who are involved in the fight against TB.
PNG has the highest TB burden in the Pacific region with over 20,000 new cases diagnosed per year and an estimated rate of new infections of 346 cases per 100,000 people.
Australia provides funding to the Global Fund to support PNG’s TB, HIV and malaria programs. In addition, Australia also provides support to PNG in areas of research to detect drug resistance, financial support to the World Health Organisation to provide technical assistance to the National Department of Health and targeted assistance of K62million to help the PNG Government address TB in the Western Province.
Ambassador Gilling stated that TB and poverty were linked and that poor living and working conditions contribute to the spreading of the disease. “The disease makes worse economic and social distress and as such is one of Papua New Guinea’s biggest development obstacles.”
Health Secretary Pascoe Kase said “the National TB Program, under the leadership of the National Department of Health and working with partners such as Australia, is committed to implementing the World Health Organisation STOP TB Strategy including the expansion of Directly Observed Treatment Short Course or DOTS strategy throughout PNG.”