The National AIDS Council Secretariat has been inadequately funded by the national government, seeing no prominence given to the HIV and AIDS status in the country.
This was highlighted during the Papua New Guinea Christian Leaders Alliance on HIV & AIDS Secretariat meeting in Port Moresby today.
A National Executive Council call for the secretariat to be downsized has also affected other line implementing agencies.
Valentine Tangoh from the National AIDS Council Secretariat was responding to questions raised by EMTV on funding arrangements.
Since 2014, funding was limited which saw a decline in awareness and advocacy programs for HIV and AIDS prevention.
For NACS to continue and effectively implement its programs, it needs money.
HIV and AIDS is a global health issue and if the national government is not serious enough, then the nation’s future is at stake.
Papua New Guinea’s Cardinal, His Eminence, Sir John Ribat is the chairman of the Papua New Guinea Christian Leaders Alliance on HIV and AIDS Secretariat. He says the National AIDS Council Secretariat should be adequately funded to support implementing agencies like churches to continue to deliver their programs under the Government-Church Partnership Program.
The Cardinal says the national government should revive NACS and provide funding and not directly to the Health Department.
He called on the national government to address HIV and AIDS.
