Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - November 30, 2004
Australia's international development agency AusAID will provide A$25 million over the next five years to support efforts of church groups to fight the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea.
In 2001, Papua New Guinea became the fourth country in the Asia-Pacific region - after Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar - to experience a generalized HIV epidemic, according to a report by the U.N.
Official estimates place the number of people living with the disease at about 16,000, but unofficial fugures run as high as 50,000 out of a population of 4.8 million.
The new program will establish voluntary testing and AIDS care clinics at nine centers throughout the impoverished country. It will also provide training for health care workers and schoolteachers to help educate the public about the transmission of the disease.
At least one participating agency won't be handing out condoms for religious reasons.
James Isbister, a spokesman for the Catholic aid agency Caritas Australia, said his organization won't distribute condoms, and will focus instead on educating the public about high-risk behavior.
"Caritas doesn't itself support the distribution of condoms, but they're very clear on ensuring that communities and individuals have informed choice," Isbister said.
Sue Graves, the director of the HIV/AIDS task force for AusAID, said church groups are in a unique position to "alter the course" of Papua New Guinea's HIV epidemic.
"Over 96% of Papua New Guineans identify themselves as members of the Christian church," Graves told reporters on Tuesday. "This means that faith-based agencies play a huge part in the lives of Papua New Guineans."
While condoms remain a key strategy in AIDS prevention, Graves said education is a bigger issue.
"The availability of condoms itself is not the biggest issue," she said. "Many women are not in a position to negotiate safe sex."
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