PNGFM Limited team members today commemorated the World Aids Day that falls on the 1st of December every year marking this year’s theme, ‘Let Communities Lead’.
In commemoration of the day itself, the staff had a session led by member of PNGFM’s Occupational Health & Safety Committee (OHSC) and Lead TB Warden, George Kavil who presented the awareness session on HIV/Aids in Papua New Guinea.
Both Mr Kavil and his fellow awareness session coordinator on the topic, Mr Jack Manu compiled their presentation after training with the Business 4 Health.
The session included discussions based on the difference between HIV and AIDS, its transmission, knowing ways on how to stay safe from the virus as well as knowing the status of someone living with the virus and knowing the various testing sites.
Team members learned that in Papua New Guinea, there are many donors in the country who make it accessible for testing at various sites to find out your HIV status.
This can then lead to those testing HIV positive, seeking the treatment they need called Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
“ART treatment is important for a person with living with HIV to receive this.”
“As long as you are faithful in taking your medication, this suppresses the virus making it less likely for transmission particularly through sexual intercourse.”
In addition to this, the session also highlighted the increase of HIV/AIDS throughout the country.
Both facilitators stressed the importance of practicing safe sex and to regularly go for testing so that one is aware of your HIV status and to know what possible steps can be taken moving forward.
Questions were then taken from the audience and discussions held around the day and the theme.
Meanwhile, PNGFM Limited is in the process of finalizing the official workplace HIV & AIDS Policy for team members.