The latest UNAIDS report shows deeply worrying HIV trends in Papua New Guinea. Annual new HIV infections have surged from 3300 in 2010 to 6700 in 2023 - more than 100% increase. Despite increase in HIV testing of pregnant women, testing rates still remain unacceptably low (23% in 2023). Treatment gap is wide too- only 58% of pregnant women or mothers living with HIV had received antiretroviral therapy.
"We need multifaceted strategy, which is community-led, to expand access to HIV prevention and treatment services. We have to increase access to all HIV prevention options, including PrEP. HIV self-test should also be more accessible to all. Communities can effectively provide HIV prevention services," said Cathy Ketepa, Chairperson for Key Population Advocacy Consortium and coordinator of Friends Frangipani (a sex workers' organisation in Papua New Guinea). "We have to support people from key populations and frontline leaders as they know best how to fight the disease."
"At this crossroads, we have to choose the path of public health and not criminalisation of people or violations of human rights. We need constitutional steps too, to support human rights and public health so that gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers or transgender people can access health services with rights and dignity," she added.
Funding gap in HIV response in Asia Pacific
"There is a 64% resource gap to meet the 2025 HIV-related targets. The shortfall in funding is another reminder that we must not become complacent. We need sustained and increased investment to ensure no one is left behind in our AIDS response," said Harry Prabowo. "Strengthening community-led initiatives for scaling up HIV prevention and treatment services, and empowering the most affected by HIV to take a leadership role in the response to HIV should be among the top priorities."
HIV response is intrinsically linked to human rights and other SDG goals and targets. "HIV response cannot take place in isolation. For example, COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts and risks, caused great disruption to access of services. Human insecurity has heightened - development landscape has shifted too. We need new approaches to development. We need growth as well as we need fully funded HIV response - but we need right kind of growth, which reduces disparities and disruptions we see in the region," rightly said Cecilia Oh, UNDP Global Programme Advisor.
Cambodia is another country in Asia Pacific that is on track to deliver on some of the HIV-related 2025 targets. Tia Phalla, National AIDS Authority Deputy Director, Cambodia, said that "Cambodia is providing social protection to 52% of people living with HIV, and prioritising key populations based on the vulnerability of their jobs. We have developed a sustainability roadmap which is included in our national strategic plan and national policy of ending AIDS and sustaining HIV response. We have less money for prevention. We need to address the gap on HIV prevention."
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