The National Aids Council Secretariat (NACS) is preparing to carry out more awareness programs, testing, care and support in the provinces this year as HIV/AIDS prevalence continues to increase in the country. Per statistics provided last year on HIV/AIDS, the total number had increased to over 59, 000 cases last year from the year 2021. Acting Secretariat Mr. Tony Lupiwa, said they will be engaging the Provincial Health Authorities (PHA) nationwide to carry out more educational awareness on HIV/AIDS this month. He said after the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is signed, prevention work will kick off starting with Enga and West New Britain Province and than to other provinces in time. “The public is advised to get tested and know their status before transmitting the virus to others unknowingly.” Lupiwa said, people who are at risk can come out and get tested and if the results are positive, they can be put on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) which can help them live a normal life instead of showing symptoms of the virus living within them. ART treatment is free and is provided by the government. “ART does not cure HIV/AIDs but helps prevent people from dying and allows them to live longer lives and as well as prevents transmission.” He added that, if a person is on ART treatment, they are not able to pass the virus to their partners or in the case of a child, the mother cannot transmit the virus to her newborn child as the ART treatment reduces the amount of HIV virus in the blood stream and hides it in the bone marrow. Mr Lupuiwa said, as HIV/AIDs is gradually increasing, people are urged to stay healthy and take care of themselves. “HIV/AIDS is still here and people must look after themselves by staying healthy and get tested to know their status.” He is urging people to stick to one partner or use a condom if they have multiple partners. He also said that, there is no cure for HIV but you can control it with the widely known HIV treatment, the ART which is free at any of the health centers in PNG.