By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Secretariat of the Pacific Community, a New Caledonia-based regional organization, will provide about $31,000 to fund a second generation survey in the CNMI, according to the Department of Public Health’s HIV and STD prevention program coordinator.
The survey, John Dax Moreno said, will gather information regarding sexual behavior and the prevalence of HIV and STDs which, “though limited in the Pacific, is necessary to effectively respond to the challenges of the diseases by ensuring the health care agencies’ responses are evidenced-based and appropriate.”
Moreno is working on the project together with SPC’s HIV/AIDS and STI surveillance coordinator, Brenda De Lisle and Public Health’s HIV-AIDS outreach worker, Roger Obarairur.
De Lisle, Moreno said, will conduct the second generation survey in the CNMI and assist the coordinators in Guam and Palau with their own surveys.
This will be the first time that an active research project will be conducted in the CNMI, Moreno said.
The survey will reach out to people in the “at-risk groups” to fully investigate the disease process, he added.
The data collected will be analyzed for use in the development of the local HIV-STD prevention program, for monitoring the trends of infection and risk behaviors and for reporting to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The survey involves a risk assessment questionnaire with a trained interviewer who will encourage all participants to get free, anonymous and confidential testing.
The survey will be conducted in collaboration with the Southern and Women’s Clinics, the Napu Life Foundation, students from Northern Marianas College and other volunteers.
Currently, local HIV and STD surveillance is conducted through passive reporting of positive cases.
Most active case findings are done only through the annual alien health screening program.