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The
PNG AIDS Circumcision Project
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The latest estimates suggest that Papua New Guinea could be decimated
by HIV/AIDS in the immediate future; there may be half a million
people infected by 2025, unless we act NOW to prevent new infections
from occurring.
Traditional approaches, such as promoting condoms, have encountered
opposition ...so what else could be offered?
Recent research shows that male circumcision is one of the most
effective preventative strategies, since it prevents HIV from
entering the penis, and may also make an infected man less likely
to transmit the virus to his female partner.
There is no cultural tradition of male circumcision in Papua New
Guinea, but in neighbouring Vanuatu (formerly the New Hebrides),
most young men are circumcised at adolescence. This could be why
there is almost no HIV infection in Vanuatu, and yet the population
is ethnically very similar to that of PNG. How could we persuade
PNG to adopt the practice?
This is what the PNG AIDS Circumcision Project is all about.
We have found two young people who have already spent time in
Vanuatu, and who have obtained the consent of the local population
to film one of the circumcision ceremonies planned for July 2006.
Independent documentary filmmaker Robbie Ferguson, a Londoner
with an English/Afro-Caribbean background and his Australian partner,
community development worker Georgina Corke have set up a film
company, that aims to investigate, inform and inspire. We would
like to fund them to return to Vanuatu in July and film one of
the ceremonies, with the ultimate objective of presenting an edited
version of the film to the World Health Organization for eventual
distribution in PNG.
The hope is that filming can be commenced in July with the the
objective of having an edited 15 minute documentary ready for
viewing in October.
We estimate that the project will cost $5465 to see through to
completion.
Those wishing to contribute can make their cheques payable to
The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated and send to:-
The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated
PO Box 1347
Frankston, VICTORIA 3199
We'll keep you posted on the progress of the project.
Australians owe so much to PNG. We cannot let the population
succumb to the HIV pandemic. Here is a simple way in which we
could help them to resist the infection.
Professor R.V.Short AM FAA FRS
Hats off to the Rotary
Club of Melbourne!
It's funding the ground-breaking
initiative which will now be known as "The Rotary Club
of Melbourne Vanuatu Project".
The decision followed an address
to the Rotary Club of Melbourne by Professor Roger Short.
Click
here for that report.
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Click here to read more about
CIRCUMCISION
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We carry a lot of news about HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea
on our website and we're also involved in other related activities
there. To read more click
HERE
We also support and showcase the KASC Project (Knowledge and
Social Change) referred to by PNG's Governor-General, Sir Paulias
Matane, at the AIDS National Prevention Summit held in Port Moresby
on March 9th.,2006.
What's that?
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT
CLICK HERE TO READ GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S
KASC SUMMARY
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The
Australian Milk Biscuit Project |
Could there be a Pacific trial for The Australian Milk Biscuit
project?
What's that?
CLICK HERE
TO FIND OUT
------------------------------------------
We carry a lot of news about HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea on our
website
and we're also involved in other related activities there.
To read more CLICK
HERE
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