By DALCY LULUA
The head of the Catholic Church in PNG, Cardinal John Ribat, has raised grave concerns over the absence of a coordinated HIV Crisis Response Plan, as infections surge throughout the country.
“We are witnessing a national emergency, and yet we still have no clear national response plan to guide our actions. This is extremely worrying,” he said.
According to the Cardinal, new data reveals 30 new HIV infections occur every day in PNG, totaling around 11,000 new cases in 2024. Nearly half of those affected are children and young people aged 24 and below.
“Even more concerning is the rate of mother-to-child transmission, with about 2,700 infants infected with HIV in 2024 alone — roughly seven babies every single day.
“Most of these infections could have been prevented if mothers had known their HIV status and accessed antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This points to a systemic failure in early diagnosis and support,” he said.
Cardinal Ribat emphasised the urgent need for a national HIV Crisis Response Plan, led by the Prime Minister, Minister for Health & HIV, and the National AIDS Council Secretariat, with the support of churches, civil society, and development partners such as the United Nations and World Health Organisation.
“We saw how the Government responded to COVID-19. That same level of urgency, coordination, and funding must now be applied to HIV. There is no time to sit and talk — it’s time to act,” he said.
Cardina Ribat also stressed the importance of community involvement in the initial planning process:
“Communities must be part of the response. When people are engaged, they take ownership of the solutions. This is how we protect families and save lives.”