The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated six years of partnership with Government of PNG and other partners addressing the HIV response in Papua New Guinea (PNG) through the “Strengthening HIV/AIDS Services for Key Populations in Papua New Guinea Project” at an official close-out event held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Port Moresby on September 25, 2018.

“I am proud to tell people that we have partnered with many different health agencies of the Government of Papua New Guinea, working together to help curb this terrible HIV epidemic and address gender-based violence --particularly among vulnerable populations who are often driven underground by stigma and discrimination,” said Catherine Ebert-Gray, US Ambassador to PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

From 2012 to 2018, the project focused on reducing the incidence and impact of HIV and gender-based violence among key populations (KPs), their sexual partners and their families in PNG. KPs targeted by the Project included men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender (TG) people and women engaging in transactional sex, including female sex workers (FSWs).

This was achieved by increasing demand for HIV/AIDS services among key populations, their sexual partners and their families and increasing the supply and quality of HIV/AIDS services for these individuals. The project also increased the use of facility- and community-based gender and gender-based violence interventions and strengthened health systems for HIV/AIDS service delivery.

“We are especially proud to have worked under the leadership of the Government of Papua New Guinea at the central, provincial and local level to strengthen the services provided and identify and work with key populations to help them access improved services. We hope that the lessons learned will be of benefit to others working in this area.” Said Dr. Jorge Velasco, USAID Health Advisor.

The Project focused on the National Capital District (NCD) and Madang provinces. FHI 360 , the USAID-funded implementing partner in collaboration with the PNG Government, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United Nations agencies, as well as local nongovernmental organizations, faith based organizations and community-based organizations worked on areas such demand generation, direct service delivery and technical assistance.