PNG's HIV figures alarming: Report

A REPORT has revealed recently that 19,160 people in Papua New Guinea  are HIV positive but do not know their status.
Health Department HIV data manager Namarola Lote, presented the report at the PNG Christian leaders alliance on HIV/AIDS meeting in Port Moresby last week.
According to the 2020 figures in the report, the prevalence rate was 0.9 per cent and there were 55,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
The report identified that of the 55,000 people, 35,840 had access to HIV medicine such as antiretroviral therapy.

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The report stated that 19,160 people were estimated to be living with HIV but did not know their status and were moving around in public.
The increase in cases of HIV/AIDS could be due to the 19,160 people who were not aware of their HIV positive status and were engaging in unprotected sexual activities.
As per the report, this group of people and their multiple sexual partners had been encouraged to get HIV testing and treatment.
Cardinal Sir John Ribat said that more needed to be done for HIV/AIDS awareness in the country.
“PNG has among the highest prevalence rate of HIV,” he said.

The National / PNG Health Watch 

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