Papua New Guinea's National Research Institute to monitor, study behavior of people living with HIV/AIDS

Papua New Guinea's Department of Health recently gave the country's National Research Institute the authority to begin a three-year program that will monitor and study the behavior of people living with HIV/AIDS, Papua New Guinea's The National reports.

NRI and the health department on Tuesday signed a memorandum that stated that the beginning of the project will be carried out by the institute, The National reports.

As part of the three million kinas, or about $1.1 million, program, NRI will establish an HIV/AIDS behavior office and begin behavioral surveillance research. According to researchers, the information gathered will be incorporated into the National HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance Plan 2008-2010. According to The National, the Asian Development Bank has given half of the funding needed, while the other half will be secured from other donors. The program will cost about $417,000 annually, The National reports.

Health Secretary Clement Malau said the data gathered from the research will aid in the department's decision-making processes, as well as in the implementation of campaigns against HIV/AIDS and other STIs. He added that it is crucial for the health department to make its decisions based on evidence. NRI Director Thomas Webster said the research aims to document the behavior related to how people think and respond to HIV/AIDS. He added that NRI looks forward to the support from the health department and hopes to carry out more awareness in writing, research, seminars and various media outlets (The National, 4/16).