HIV/AIDS in PNG

Dr Ann Clarke was invited to speak to Soroptimist International members from Maylands Peninsula at the Dec meeting in 2009. Ann gave information about the high incidence of sexual assault, pack rape and exposure to HIV that affects women and girls in Papua New Guinea. Ann had recently returned from living in PNG where she had been General Manager of PNG’s Business Coalition Against the spread of HIV & AIDS (BAHA).

This project would focus on an area where women and girls are at constant risk of violence and serious health consequences. The project is to support the health and education of Papua New Guineans, particularly women and girls, through the publishing and distribution of pamphlets which give information about the importance of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP); the treatment available; and, where to get help. These will be in standard English and Pidgin.

Th PNG PEP project is in its initial stages of development and one of the first actions will be to contact the SI clubs in PNG to enlist their support and advice.