11 more AIDS cases<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's official AIDS count continues its
\nsteady increase, with 11 more people testing positive for Human
\nImmunodeficiency Virus in October, bringing the total to 355.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas told
\nreporters yesterday that Jakarta still tops the list with 118
\ncases, followed by Irian Jaya with 96, Bali with 33 and Riau and
\nEast Java provinces with 29 each.<\/p>\n
Government officials have admitted that the actual number of
\nHIV-positive people in Indonesia is likely to be 100 times over
\nthe official number.<\/p>\n
Azwar, who heads the national commission to counter the spread
\nof AIDS, told reporters that the government plans to launch a
\nmassive campaign against the disease on Dec. 1, international
\nAIDS day.<\/p>\n
Since it falls on Friday, the government has asked Moslem
\npreachers to take up the anti-AIDS campaign in their Friday
\nsermons, he said, adding that leaders of other religions will
\nalso be asked to do their part.<\/p>\n
The minister ruled out promoting the use of condoms in the
\ngovernment's anti-AIDS campaign, saying that condoms only have a
\n26 percent safety rate.<\/p>\n
\"People should be encouraged to strengthen their faith,\" he
\nsaid, adding that condoms are only effective for family planning.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/11-more-aids-cases-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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