AIDS real count -- 200 times the official record<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The actual number of people who carry the Human
\nImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Indonesia could be 200 times more
\nthan officially recorded, Coordinating Minister for Public
\nWelfare Azwar Anas says.<\/p>\n
Azwar told reporters yesterday that the number of people who
\nare known to carry the virus, which causes Acquired Immune
\nDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), in Indonesia has reached 213 in 14
\nprovinces by the latest official count.<\/p>\n
\"If we have 213, then that means that there could be between
\n100 to 200 behind everyone of them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Of these HIV carriers, 35 have died.<\/p>\n
According to the figures, there are two HIV carriers in North
\nSumatra, one in West Sumatra, 17 in Riau, three in South Sumatra,
\n69 in Jakarta, 10 in West Java, one in Central Java, two in
\nYogyakarta, 23 in East Java, one in West Kalimantan, one in East
\nKalimantan, 28 in Bali, one in East Nusa Tenggara and 54 in Irian
\nJaya.<\/p>\n
\"What is even more disconcerting is that many of them are in
\ntheir productive ages,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As many as 96 are between the 20-29, 59 in the 30-39 age
\ngroup, and 20 in the 40-49 age group.<\/p>\n
Other statistics showed that seven HIV carriers are in the 15-
\n19 age group and four in the 50-59 age group. The ages of the
\nother 23 are not known.<\/p>\n
Azwar also disclosed that 58 of the carriers are homosexuals,
\nwidely believed to be a high risk group.<\/p>\n
The minister said the government is currently drafting a new
\npresidential executive order designed to coordinate more
\neffectively the campaign against the spread of AIDS in Indonesia.
\n(emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aids-real-count-200-times-the-official-record-1447899208",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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