Hundreds die to HIV/AIDS

Wednesday, 29 January 2025, 4:42 pm

**National AIDs Council Secretariat office. (Image: Supplied)**

An estimated 980 people have lost their lives to HIV/AIDs between 2010 and 2023.

National AIDs Council Secretariat Acting Director Victor Aisa told NBC News, 3 deaths are reported in a day, with 19 in a week.

He said this constitute a key population of female sex workers and transgender people among others.

The high burden provinces for HIV/AIDS are NCD, Morobe, Jiwaka and Enga among others.

"The main route of HIV in Papua New Guinea remains through are, the highest is the female sex workers and also men have sex with men and transgender.

"It is crucial for the national government to step in and support the functions of National AIDS Council of PNG," Asia said.

Mr. Aisa added that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 1 percent in 2023 needs to be brought down to the mark of atleast 0.65 percent which was the rate in 2010, manageable levels.