Day 7: World AIDS Day – HIV in Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, a high incidence of gender-based violence contributes to the rising rates of HIV infection. Today, on World AIDS Day, we offer an insight into the work that IWDA supports in PNG to reduce transmission of HIV.

Papua New Guinea has the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the Pacific region and was the first nation in the Pacific Region to have a generalised epidemic. Although the data lacks statistical rigour, UNAIDS estimates that approximately 0.9% of the adult population are infected with the virus, the main mode of infection being through heterosexual transmission. The epidemic is geographically concentrated with three out of four new infections among women and men from the Highlands region. It is here that HIV spreads rapidly along the busy Highlands Highway, fuelled by the exchange of sex for money earned in the mines and other resource industries along this major transport route. HIV infection levels among women aged 15-29 years are twice as high as among men of the same age. High prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in PNG and high incidence of gender-based violence contribute to the rising rates of infection. PNG’s already over-burdened health system is straining under this pressure.

IWDA is part of a consortium to implement the East New Britain Sexual Health Improvement Program. The approach involves support for provincial, district level and community level initiatives. The consortium supports existing government, church and private health agencies to effectively deliver STI prevention and treatment services; at the same time engaging with non-government organisations (NGOs), faith based organisations (FBOs) from various Christian denominations, and community based organisations (CBOs) to mobilise and promote care-seeking and healthy sexual behaviours among communities and vulnerable groups.

IWDA supports a gender sensitive community-based response which aims to empower women and men to make positive and informed sexual and reproductive health decisions and increase the use of health services by women and men for sexual health information and treatment through breaking down barriers and stigma and discrimination. IWDA is contracted to provide specific technical inputs and supports the Burnet Institute in the development of ongoing training for up to 200 volunteer community activists known as “Stret Tokers”.

For further information regarding the provision of gender training and advisory services in Papua New Guinea please contact:

N’Deane Helajzen, Gender Adviser – PNG
Gender Wise

International Women’s Development Agency
PO Box 64
Flinders Lane VIC 8009

(+61 3) 9650 5574

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The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991. For each of the 16 Days from 25 November to 10 December 2011, the IWDA website will be featuring a different piece to highlight the work of our partners and explore ways that IWDA supporters can take part in the effort to end gender-based violence.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 1st, 2011 under 16_Days, Front page, Papua New Guinea.