MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
For Immediate Release
Australia-PNG round-table acknowledges research key in fighting HIV
Effective research is one of the most important keys in halting the spread of HIV and AIDS in PNG, said the visiting Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Duncan Kerr SC, and Romanus Pakure, acting Director of the National AIDS Council Secretariat.
Mr Kerr and Mr Pakure were part of a round-table discussion today at AusAID’s Muruk Haus focusing on the need for increased and better quality research in understanding the HIV epidemic in Papua New Guinea. The round-table also discussed ways to strengthen research capacity.
“As things currently stand, infection rates will be in the order of 6 per cent by 2015 which means more than 200,000 people will be living with HIV in PNG – this could mean a reduction in the national workforce of 6.2 per cent,” said Mr Kerr.
“Research is imperative in developing an effective response to this growing epidemic.”
Mr Pakure explained that the rate of infection in rural areas was rising more quickly than anywhere else in PNG.
“We need to understand the factors which contribute to patterns and rates of infection and if we are going to make an impact in these areas we need to be able to monitor behaviour over the longer term. The only way we can do this is through more and better research,” said Mr Pakure.
The recent announcement by Australia of an additional K1.8 million to HIV research through the Papua New Guinea Large Research Grant program was an indicator of the importance both PNG and Australia place on research.
The grant scheme is a partnership between the PNG-Australia HIV and AIDS Program (Sanap Wantaim) and the PNG National AIDS Council Secretariat. The grant scheme will support research which will increase knowledge of the drivers of the epidemic and understanding of the lives of those directly affected by HIV and AIDS. The studies will also aim to address the effectiveness of current approaches.
“There is no quick fix to the challenge of HIV and AIDS. Targeted and local research needs to play a significant role in the battle with all stakeholders working together to utilise results effectively,” said Mr Kerr.
“This research needs also to be backed up by concerted and coordinated efforts from many groups including national and provincial level governments, traditional partners and donors like Australia, and new partners in the fight against HIV, such as the newly established Pacific Friends of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,” said Mr Kerr.