Papua New Guinea's leaders are warning the Aids virus will wipe out its population and are calling on New Zealand's help.
The statistics have already reached epidemic levels, but as One News' Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver reports, it's just the beginning.
Papua New Guinean health ministries had estimated 65,000 people were carriers of the disease, but there are new fears that figure is too low and the impact far worse.
"We have an average life expectancy of 52 years, we could go to 24," says cabinet minister.
That's because poverty and widespread sexual violence against women is fuelling the rapid spread of the disease.
Around 100 people are diagnosed with HIV at Port Moresby Hospital every month and they're likely to end their lives here. The leading cause of death at this hospital is Aids.
A New Zealand delegation of politicians and aid representatives is finding out first hand how bad the problem is.
"It's going to decimate this country, they are running short of everything so they are not getting basic medical supplies," Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick says.
New Zealand recently doubled its aid commitment, over the next three years giving more than $50 million.
"PNG is the largest country in the South Pacific by far so the whole region has a long term interest in PNG's prosperity and stability," says Laurie Marks, New New Zealand High Commissioner in Papua New Guinea.
That stability is proving a huge hurdle. There is widespread government corruption in Papua New Guinea.
"This is a problem because the system is weak, but we hope that will one day change" Marks says.
