PM launches online National Youth Debate on HIV/AIDS
March 10, 2010
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Sir Michael Somare launches the National Youth Debate online at the Friendship Library of DWU last Saturday. |
Chairman of PNG Sustainable Development Program and Australian government’s Climate Change Special Adviser, Prof Ross Garnaut being welcomed for the launch of the online debate by DWU student council president Dennis Kitchnoge last Saturday. |
Prime Minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare has launched an online National Youth Debate on HIV/AIDS for students in institutions of higher education at Divine Word University in Madang, last Saturday morning.
The project is an initiative of the National AIDS Council Secretariat to get young adults interested in discussing and debating the issue and is supported by the PNG Sustainable Development Program.
The launch at the Friendship Library was witnessed by Professor Ross Garnaut, chairman of the PNG Sustainable Development Program and the Australian Government’s special adviser on Climate Change, High Commissioner of Solomon Islands to PNG, Bernard Bata’anasia, Madang governor Sir Arnold Amet, Chairman of the DWU, Council Dr Father Garrett Roche, DWU President Fr Jan Czuba, other invited guests and students and staff.
Sir Michael said sex was no longer a taboo subject as in PNG’s traditional past and young people need to talk openly about HIV/AIDS.
He said as PNG is opening up to be part of an increasingly open global society, the youth must also be given the chance to discuss issues such as HIV/AIDS and the online debate forum provides that opportunity.
DWU student representative council president, Dennis Kitchnoge said the National Youth Debate online, gives opportunity to everyone. Mr Kitchnoge said traditional forms of debate were restricted to few people who could be confident to stand up and speak in public but left out the rest who had ideas to share. Chris Papiali, an information systems lecturer involved with the project said the launch marked a very important step forward in giving chance to the youth to share their ideas on a national issue using modern technology.
The National Youth Debate website allows students and youths register via a password and discuss or debate the HIV/AIDS issue and receive feedback from others in a two-way communication. The site was created by the DWU Information and Communication Technology Services Department who also hosts it. The debate will initially involve DWU students and move out to other institutions later on depending on their desire to link up.
