AIDS, Condoms and hookers<\/p>\n
In response to the letter of Wawat Rusmanawati published in
\nThe Jakarta Post on Sept. 5, and the letter from Azizah Soebagijo
\n(MTP Secretary) on Sept. 9, please allow us to clarify.<\/p>\n
1. The series of AIDS prevention public service announcements
\n(PSAs) were developed by the Aksi Stop AIDS Program (ASA) to
\nsupport the Gerakan Nasional Penanggulangan AIDS (The National
\nHIV\/AIDS Prevention Movement). The National Strategy for HIV\/AIDS
\nPrevention proclaimed by the Coordinating Minister of Public
\nWelfare in 1994 and still in effect, states:<\/p>\n
- Every person has the right to receive correct information to
\nprotect themselves and others from HIV\/AIDS infection.<\/p>\n
- HIV\/AIDS prevention is directed towards education and
\nexplanation of behaviors that reduce the opportunity for HIV
\ntransmission and to change behaviors that are high risk.<\/p>\n
- Issues such as women's empowerment to negotiate a sexual
\nencounter ... availability and use of condoms ... constitute
\nimportant issues for effective implementation of this policy.
\nThese PSAs fall within the above framework of the National HIV
\nPrevention Strategy.<\/p>\n
2. The objective of these PSAs is to reduce harm from high risk
\nbehaviors (extramarital\/premarital sex) currently occurring in
\nIndonesian society. Harm reduction is linked to messages
\nencouraging faithfulness towards spouses and abstinence for
\nunmarried youths.<\/p>\n
3. The spirit of the PSAs encouraging condom use in high risk
\nsituations is to prevent HIV\/AIDS transmission and to protect
\nhousewives and their babies. According to estimates based on
\nDepartment of Social Welfare survey data, there are between
\n260,000 and 370,000 female sex workers in Indonesia. Available
\ndata suggests they service more than seven million Indonesian
\nmen, more than 60 percent of whom are married and who risk
\ninfecting their wives and children.<\/p>\n
4. The assumption that condom PSAs on HIV\/AIDS encourage
\npremarital and extramarital sex is not correct. In India,
\nThailand, Cambodia and Laos, similar condom promotion decreased
\nthe number of visits of men to sex workers.
\n5. These PSAs are not made by, nor do they have any association
\nwith any condom producer.<\/p>\n
ADJI DHARMOYO<\/p>\n
Prevention Marketing Specialist<\/p>\n
Program ASA Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aids-condoms-and-hookers-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }