Princess Anne Discusses Challenge of Fighting HIV/AIDS During Visit to Papua New Guinea

Britain's Princess Anne during a one-day visit to Papua New Guinea to mark the country's 30th anniversary of independence discussed the challenge of fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic and met with HIV-positive people, the AAP/7News reports. During a speech at a state reception, Anne said that addressing the epidemic is one of the country's biggest challenges and that sustained political and community leadership is necessary to successfully fight the disease. She cited Uganda as an example of how HIV prevalence can be reduced with political and community support. "Papua New Guinea, I believe, can learn from Africa's experience because it is certainly a virus that respects no boundaries, whether political, cultural, religious, educational or economic," she said. Almost 2% of Papua New Guinea's population is estimated to be HIV-positive, according to the AAP/7News. Anne also visited with HIV-positive clients of Port Moresby's Anglicare Stop AIDS Centre, which provides HIV care, testing, education and counseling, according to Director Dominica Bessie Abo (Jones, AAP/7News, 9/29).

Back to other news for September 30, 2005