20 Sep 2023

PNG struggle to bring HIV infection rates down

From , 6:01 am on 20 September 2023
selective focus of negative and positive hiv blood sample test on red background

selective focus of negative and positive hiv blood sample test on red background Photo: Copyright: lightfieldstudios

HIV and tuberculosis infections in Papua New Guinea have soared in the past two years.

The civil society group Business for Health, or B4H, which works with businesses to raise awareness particularly about TB, has expressed deep concern at what it calls the "alarming rate of new HIV infections".

Director Ann Clarke says with education, access to testing and treatment, it seemed the peak of the HIV epidemic had passed.

She says the latest 'HIV snapshot' from UNAIDS reveals 6,500 new infections, which is a 91% increase from the 2021 report.

Ms. Clarke spoke with RNZ Pacific's Don Wiseman.