Papua New Guinea releases new HIV prevalence estimates
UNAIDS Approximately 0.92% of the adult population in Papua New Guinea was living with HIV in 2009, according to new estimates from the National Department of Health and the National AIDS Council Secretariat. This latest round of estimates of HIV prevalence—carried out by a panel of national and international experts—is based on extensive data from antenatal clinics in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, Southern, Momase, and New Guinea Islands regions. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of health facilities in Papua New Guinea conducting HIV tests among pregnant women—from 17 in 2005 to 178 in 2009. New data collected at these facilities have provided a clearer picture of the country’s HIV prevalence than ever before. “These new estimates have greatly enhanced our understanding of the scale and scope of Papua New Guinea’s AIDS epidemic,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel SidibĂ©, in an official visit to Papua New Guinea. “They provide an opportunity to r