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PNG Aids victims 'buried alive' - Culture challenge on getting education out [Del.icio.us links]

Papua New Guinea is one of the most diverse countries on earth, with over 700 native languages. Approximately 2% of the population is infected with HIV and the number is growing at a rapid pace. The lack of education on HIV has caused the nation to fight this modern disease with an ancient, traditional way; for those caught with the epidemic are often thought to be the victims of witchcraft, some tribes even bury their infected alive.

The diversity of Papua New Guinea poses a cultural barrier that limits the ability to thoroughly save and educate the nation. The education process is quite expensive due to the fact that it requires numerous translations with a diverse and large staff, which would be able to address the different ethnic communities. This crisis in a nation with one of the world’s fastest growing Aids rates needs a traditional and slow approach to decrease the pace of the disease with advocates required to individually teach and nurse each person in the community.

Technorati Tags: Cultural Barriers