National AIDS Council chairman Sir Peter Barter has thanked Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Health Minister Sasa Zibe for the release of K6 million which will be used to purchase and administer treatment for those people infected with HIV for the remainder of 2010.
Although it was announced at the National Youth Debate held at the Divine Word University in Madang recently that funds had been approved for this purpose, the actual money has now been received and both the Department of Health and the National Aids Council Secretariat are engaged in ensuring these funds are used immediately to ensure the continuation of treatment for those under treatment as well as those expected to be infected in the future, in particular for children and pregnant women.
Sir Peter said the NAC had also requested that provision be made within the 2011 budget for funds to be made available so treatment could continue into the future as it was now time that Papua New Guinea took ownership of the challenge to ultimately eradicate HIV completely from the country, which could only be done by collectively working together and through effective coordination.
“I am sure that the release of funds will convince our donor partners that the GoPNG is genuinely concerned, and that the release of funds will restore credibility with those donors, including the Global Fund, that we and all stakeholders will do all possible to prevent the spread of HIV in PNG,” he said.
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