Addressing poverty and unemployment is critical to combating the HIV crisis in Papua New Guinea. Economic hardship creates structural vulnerabilities that directly contribute to the spread of the virus. Specifically, financial instability often drives individuals toward transactional sex to survive. Furthermore, povertyCH poverty limits the ability of many citizens to access essential health services. The text argues that medical treatments alone are insufficient to stop the transmission of STIs and HIV. Systematic drivers of the epidemic must be addressed to achieve long-term success. Therefore, a holistic approach focusing on economic stability is necessary for public health improvement.