PAPUA NEW GUINEA: HIV/AIDS numbers increasing

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone. PORT MORESBY, 6 November 2008 - The number of people living with HIV in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is rising, not just in urban areas but more so in rural areas, a new report has found. "The epidemic is still increasing more rapidly than the response," said the report by the Independent Review Group (IRG) on HIV/AIDS, a panel of experts established in 2007. The IRG conducts two assessment missions yearly on the planning and implementation of the National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS, and the report covers an assessment undertaken from 27 August to 9 September. Stressing its concern over the infection level in rural areas, where there are too few clinics to cope with even... [read full story]