Warning on AIDS in Asia-Pacific
Julia Medew; 18/9/08
Australia must act to prevent HIV epidemics in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in Papua New Guinea, from worsening and creeping onto its shores, the head of the Red Cross global HIV program says. Dr Bernard Gardiner, an Australian based in the Red Cross’ Geneva headquarters, said a recent cluster of infections among heterosexual Australian men who had visited PNG, reinforced why Australia could not be complacent about neighbouring epidemics. “Australia cannot sit back and wait for this to become a big problem,” he said. “It’s a really dangerous notion for Australia to treat itself as though it is somehow wrapped in cotton wool and protected from the reality of the global HIV epidemic. It isn’t. As a rich country, we need to play our part.”
See: http://www.theage.com.au/national/warning-on-aids-in-asiapacific-20080917-4ip4.html