The Government of India will be assisting PNG bring in over 7 million Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) Drugs for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
This was announced by West New Britain Governor and Chairman of the HIV/AIDS Advocacy Committee, Sasindran Muthuvel.
He made the announcement when making a statement on the committee’s 2015 Inquiry Report on the status of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea.
Governor Muthuvel was part of Peter O’Neill’s entourage when the Prime Minister visited India mid this year.
It was during the trip that Muthuvel realized the inexpensive cost of ART drugs in the country.
Following the trip, Muthuvel wrote to the Indian High Commissioner to PNG to assist in bringing in ART drugs.
The response was positive and will see the 7.2 million ART drugs brought into PNG.
Muthuvel thanked Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, for signing off in the letter to the High Commissioner which he says had a profound impact in making the assistance a reality.
The 2015 Inquiry Report on the status of HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea contains 10 recommendations following inquiries in 10 provinces in the four regions of PNG.
Governor Muthuvel says the recommendations should be taken seriously and acted on by the Government.