The battle is not over: Parkop

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 4, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has called on all stakeholders in the fight against HIV and AIDs to not be complacent despite the drop in the prevalence rate over recent years.

Governor Parkop made the call when speaking at the UN Women and UNAIDS Media Awards for excellence in reporting.

“I want to use this occasion to call on all of us. The battle is not over,” Governor Parkop said.

“We are almost at the finishing line- but unless we make the extra effort- we might not reach the finishing line. It is important that we recognize this.”

“Because I note and sense that people are becoming complacent, NAC (National Aids Council) in a bit of crisis, the provincial aids committee are nowhere to be seen, even here in the city they have not been functioning for 2 years.”

“We have not been able to remit the funds that we have allocated for this effort through our PAC (Provincial Aids Committee) and out to all our organisations who are doing wonderful work.”

He said it was not over yet with the fear that the prevalence rate could go up again.

“We might become a generalized epidemic again, and that warrants all of us to take stock and continue to be alert and be proactive.”

“In our city particularly we must focus on those risky communities and we all know the area of high risk in our city.”

“Men having sex with men, transgender, we need to create and environment in which people are not stigmatized, not discriminated, they can come seek help and seek support, and get treatment, recover, live long life and importantly we continue to reduce the prevalence and more important to help those living with HIV and AIDs.”

He said despite the rate reduction, the country is still far away from providing the type of support that is needed to those with HIV & AIDS in the country.