Madang records 60 new HIV positive cases between July-September

Chairman of Madang PHA, Dr Boga Figa and Acting Director of the National AIDS Council Secretariat, Michelle Nilkare, signing the MOA on Monday at the Madang Resort Hotel. Other parties who also signed the MOA were the district administrators, DPLGA, and the CEO of Madang PHA, Dr Martin Daimen *(NBC News)*

Madang Province has recorded 60 new HIV positive cases in the last three months, July- September, 2026.

A report presented by Idinad Clinic at a two- days stakeholders' consultation, which concluded today, clinician Health Extension Officer (HEO), Lissie Wapip revealed the 60 cases were recorded in the third quarter of this year.

She said a total of 1, 956 tests were carried out between July and September, 68% of which were females and 32% males.

Twenty- four (24) of the positive cases were reported at Idinad Clinic whilst the others came through different referral pathways, including the ante- clinic.

HEO Wapip said a lot of the positive cases continue to come through the ante- natal clinic.

Last year, Madang conducted 11, 653 HIV tests, of which 212 cases came out positive.

Of the total tests conducted last year, 2 951 were referrals from the Ante-natal clinics (ANC) Fourteen cases from the ANC returned positive results. This is 0.5 % of the total referrals from the ANC.

On the national scale, an estimated 130, 000 people are living with HIV, with a national prevalence rate of 1.5%. In 2025, an estimated 11, 000 people acquired HIV and 3, 100 died from AIDS- related illnesses.

According to PNG's HIV Fact Sheet, 2026; HIV testing increased from 91, 151 in 2021 to 388, 425 in 2025, resulting in more than 11, 000 HIV diagnoses.

HIV has been reported in all provinces, with a national positivity rate of 2. 9% and provincial rates ranging from 1.0% to 7.6%, reflecting marked geographic variation.

Globally, new HIV infections have declined by 42% since 2010. PNG, however; continues to record around 30 new HIV infections every day, including 7 babies acquiring HIV through mother- to- child transmission.

Although 62, 607 people are receiving anti- retroviral therapy (ART), treatment coverage remains below the estimated number of people living with HIV, underscoring the need to expand testing, treatment and retention in care.

The stakeholders consultation in the last two days was a lead- up to last night's signing of a Memorandum of Agreement by the National AIDS Council Secretariat (NACS), the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, the six district development authorities (DDAs), and the Madang Provincial Health Authority to collaborate in HIV prevention and coordination.

Acting Director of the National AIDS Council Secretariat, Michelle Nilkare, said her team is going around the provinces to see how best NACS can connect back to the province.

Madang is the 5th province to sign the MOA after West New Britain, Enga, Simbu, and Western provinces.