TWENTY-seven military and civilian medical staff – doctors, nurses and health
extension officers – who serve in PNG Defence Force units across the
country were certified as HIV/Aids counsellors and prescribers on Friday 5th
July 2024.
Certificates were presented to the staff following a two-week intensive course
on HIV/Aids in Port Moresby. The training was sponsored by the US
Government and conducted by doctors and medical scientists from the
National Department of Health.
Speaking during the closing ceremony on Friday, Department of Defence
Deputy Secretary Mr Simon Tunapai said the training was vital because
soldiers and their families were a high-risk group due to the kind of work
military does. He said HIV was present throughout PNG and if protective
measures were not adhered to, a person could expose himself / herself to
the virus.
“Soldiers get deployed to areas where the virus is present, so they expose
themselves and their families to the risk. With the training now received, the
Department of Defence and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force will be
able to provide effective pre-deployment counselling and post-deployment
counselling and treatment relating to HIV/Aids,” he said.
Tunapai said the training was a first-of-its-kind for the Defence
Organisation (Department of Defence and PNGDF), and it was a capability
boost.
According to National Department of Health Senior Medical Officer STI/HIV
Dr. Elsie Apuahe, the training covered all key aspects of HIV/Aids
awareness, counselling and treatment.
She said the training covered topics in: HIV/Aids epidemiology; HIV
pathogenesis; opportunistic diseases and how to manage them; HIV/Aids
treatment in adults, youth and children; prevention; HIV test and diagnosis;
and STIs.
PNGDF Director of Medical Services Lieutenant Colonel Dr Peter Kaminiel
thanked the experts from the National Department of Health for the training
and assured them of PNGDF’s commitment to not only the health of the
force but also that of the surrounding communities where PNGDF units are
located.
“Through our clinics we can provide the following services: Counselling,
Testing and Treatment to everyone who access our clinic,” he said.
He said working in collaboration with the National Department of Health,
PNGDF Health Services was also addressing issues and programs set out in
the National Health Plan 2021 – 2030 “LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND”
