Ongoing concerns about HIV/AIDS testing in Papua New Guinea
25/06/2009
A new report suggests that few people in Papua New Guinea are aware of their current HIV status.
Radio Australia reports that a study produced by the Papua New Guinea Business Coalition Against AIDS (BAHA) shows that 48,000 people were tested for HIV/AIDS during the first six months of 2008 - with 1,300 testing as positive.
However, BAHA manager Dr Ann Clarke believes that there needs to be an increase in the number of people agreeing to the testing in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
She added: "Generally speaking, not enough people go for an HIV test, that is the principle message.
"If you don't know your status you can't prevent yourself from spreading the infection if you don't know you're HIV positive."
It is estimated that 24,800 people have tested positive since 1987 when the first HIV/AIDS case in the country was discovered.
A UN progress report on Papua New Guinea estimated that at the end of 2007, the national HIV prevalence rate stood at 1.61 per cent - equal to 59,537 people living with HIV.
