"HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea is no longer a problem, but a crisis," reported Gad Koito, director of health ministries for the Papua New Guinea Union Mission (PNGUM), quoting Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Health. "And as a church, we have started very late," he added. His comments were part of a report from the Commission on HIV/AIDS established by the church's administrative South Pacific Division (SPD), delivered to the SPD executive committee’s midyear meeting.

At present, 12,000 HIV/AIDS cases are reported in Papua New Guinea (PNG) but estimates suggest the real figure is between 50,000 and 60,000. As elsewhere in the world, young people are those most affected by this emerging pandemic.

Jonathan Duffy, director of Adventist Health for the South Pacific Division, echoed Mr Koito’s concern. "It’s a huge issue," he commented. "According to the World Health Organization (WHO), PNG has the fastest growing HIV/AIDS problem outside of Africa. "And it’s not something just outside the church," continued Mr Duffy. "Studies conducted in some Pacific communities have found Adventist young people are among the most sexually active in the community. As a percentage of population, the spread of AIDS is the same inside the church as outside the church."

PNGUM has established its own commission on HIV/AIDS. "We have also asked each local mission to establish an HIV/AIDS committee," Mr Koito reported. "We are working to develop a strategic plan for the church to address AIDS in PNG. "This is the top priority as a union health department," he said. "We aim to mobilize church entities and all church departments to address this issue. At the moment, the focus is on training church leaders to be confident in leading HIV/AIDS prevention programs, in working with people living with HIV/AIDS and giving hope to those who are suffering from this epidemic."

The commission has not limited its focus to PNG, recognizing the threat hangs over many nations of the Pacific. "In parts of our region, rates of sexual activity are higher than that in Africa, so the epidemic is just starting to emerge here," said Mr Duffy. He reported that other factors also affect the rate of transmission. For example, the economic downturn in some countries has led to an increase in the sex trade.

The commission’s report calls for action in each of the union conferences and missions across the South Pacific. "This is a sensitive issue, particularly cross-culturally," Mr Duffy admitted. "But we must address this. We are planning to develop a Pacific summit on AIDS next year.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church can take a lead role in this issue, raising awareness and developing strategies. "The time for awareness is gone. By the time we reach a 3 per cent infection rate, it is out of control—and [in PNG] we are very close to that now." [Editor: Nathan Brown for The Record and APD]