HIV incidence at neonatal clinics in Papua New Guinea have reached levels similar to those seen in South Africa a decade ago, the 35th Pacific Forum was told in early August.

The annual summit, held this year in Samoa and attended by representatives of 16 countries including Australia, endorsed a regional HIV/AIDS strategy emphasising the importance of safe sex education and prevention programs.

In a six-page statement issued at the conclusion of the summit, the forum members included a resolution to fight HIV/AIDS, citing a “need to address vigorously this most urgent issue.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said that, while the HIV/AIDS epidemic had been largely controlled in the region, a unified strategy to fight the disease was “urgently needed.”

"AIDS right now is a disease we cannot cure and the cost of the advanced AIDS drugs is really beyond the capability of small developing countries to meet,” Ms Clark said. “The main emphasis has to go on sex education. How that is approached will differ from country to country.”

HIV incidence in New Zealand is now 23 cases per 100,000 people; in Kiribati the rate is 47, in Tuvalu 82 and in PNG 132 cases per 100,000, Ms Clark told the forum.

In a separate announcement, Australia has unveiled a $5 million grants fund for HIV/AIDS projects in the Pacific region. The grants will be available for HIV programs in 14 of the least wealthy countries in the region.