15 Jun 2006

WHO to continue monitoring of HIV spread

5:20 pm on 15 June 2006

The World Health Organisation says it will continue to monitor the spread of HIV in the Pacific region by funding further surveys.

A WHO and SPC survey conducted in six Pacific countries - Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu - showed a rise in the number of sexually transmitted infections which threaten to spread HIV in the region.

Dr Chen Ken of the WHO recommends more counselling and treatment programmes in Pacific countries to control the spread of HIV virus.

"We will continue to work with the Pacific Island countries to improve the treatment and care for HIV aids patient. And some of the people already start the treatment and we are working with them to assess the capacity or to find out the gap."

He says the WHO's highest priority in regards to HIV work is Papua New Guinea.