On the South Pacific Island of Papua New Guinea, this Dec. 1 -- also known as World AIDS Day -- has special significance. The HIV/AIDS epidemic that has killed 3 million people worldwide this year alone runs rampant on the island, making it number one in
On the South Pacific Island of Papua New Guinea, this Dec. 1—also known as World AIDS Day—has special significance. The HIV/AIDS epidemic that has killed 3 million people worldwide this year alone runs rampant on the island, making it number one in the region for the disease.
Despite the bad news, newly opened HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre (VCT) in Lae, Papua New Guinea is striking back at the disease. VCT, which opened in April, is a one-stop center that offers education, counseling and testing on HIV/AIDS.
The Centre, which is owned by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Papua New Guinea (ADRA-PNG), recently held an HIV/AIDS awareness workshop and VCT sessions for 16 students at the Wauwin Secondary School. This followed an invitation from the Family Health Association, which is one of the VCT’s partners and provides training specifically for young people.
As a result of the sessions, three students visited the Centre and volunteered to refer clients for counseling and testing.
Kym Piez, agency development director for ADRA-PNG, says, “The Centre is open each weekday and provides rapid-result blood tests, pre- and post-test counseling, home visits, referrals to hospitals, resources for reading, and distribution of information, education and communication materials. All services are provided free of charge.”
“Clients value how they are treated by our team,” says Henry Hapen, VCT coordinator. “They value the customer service and confidentiality.” He also says he believes people are beginning to realize the benefits and value of having the services the Centre provides, and have come to feel comfortable about asking questions regarding HIV/AIDS.
The VCT has also gained recognition from outside the community. “Just this month, ADRA received formal notice from the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS) that ADRA-PNG’s VCT Centre was successful in gaining accreditation,” says Piez.
Sharon Walker of the NACS said in her letter to ADRA that they were “impressed at what has already been put in place by the staff. The development of a number of forms specific to VCT counseling was impressive.”
The accreditation is the next major step for the Centre in providing a well-serviced facility. A second counselor is being recruited so that service delivery is provided for both male and female clients.
The ADRA-PNG VCT Centre will also undergo extensive refurbishing and extensions, which will be completed early in 2006. The extension includes two private counseling rooms, a resource center and extra training rooms.