Papua New Guinea - Mobile AIDS Clinics
Background
There are currently estimated to be 46,275 people living with HIV-AIDS in PNG, and this could rise to over 500,000 or 10% of the population by 2025. In addition to this, AusAid figures estimate that 117,000 children could have lost their mothers to the disease in the same period.The trend of the epidemic is projected to increase greatly, especially in the rural areas, which account for 85% of the PNG population. With infections in 2007 almost three times the number for 2003, the epidemic is taking heading towards an exponential trend as seen in Africa.
The Project
MUSTARD Seed Global will establish two mobile HIV-AIDS clinics or (purpose-modified Toyota Land Cruisers) which will complement the services provided by existing service providers in Rabaul (New Guinea islands) and Mount Hagen (highlands) respectively. The mobile HIV-AIDS clinics will be purpose modified Toyota Land Cruisers that will be used to systematically visit village areas beyond the towns, schools, colleges, prisons, businesses and high population rural agricultural/industrial sites.The mobile clinics will be fully equipped to administer ART (anti-retroviral drugs) and to medically assess those living with HIV-AIDS for the purpose of referral to established hospital services for end stage treatment. In addition they will also perform HIV-AIDS and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing.
Currently in Papua New Guinea fear is keeping people from being tested and receiving the necessary treatment and education to prevent them spreading the disease. The vans will also be used to provide a context for education, improved data collection, and community-based support involving the churches located in the different areas being visited. The vans will bring the Christian message of hope and love in the face of fear.
Click here to contribute or to find out more send us an email...
Would you like to receive newsletters from Mustard Seed Global? Click here