Celebrities participate in anti-AIDS discussion<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An AIDS talk Saturday, which involved musicians
\nand other artists, ended with a noisy game of who dared to take
\ntests for HIV and who didn't.<\/p>\n
"I would take the test," Titi Qadarsih, a senior entertainer,
\nformer model and current fitness instructor said.<\/p>\n
"I would bear the consequences... and spread the word that
\ncarefree, pleasant sex is not pleasant at all because it is
\ndangerous."<\/p>\n
"I could not do it," a painter said. "There is no cure for
\nAIDS and I would lose all my spirit to do anything if I tested
\npositive."<\/p>\n
The responses were part of a discussion at the end of a talk
\nheld by the Pelita Ilmu Foundation and the Ikapari country
\nmusicians' group.<\/p>\n
Some 25 artists were active from morning to late afternoon at
\nthe talk held at Pete's Tavern at Menara Thamrin, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Anto W. Soemartono, who coordinates the musicians' group, said
\nthe artists were enthusiastic because the talk was held at their
\nown initiative.<\/p>\n
They wanted to know more about Human Immunodeficiency Virus
\n(HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and what
\nthey could do about it.<\/p>\n
The issue whether education, with moral and ethical aspects,
\ncould prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS drew a heated debate,
\nwhile some questions and comments were more practical.<\/p>\n
One participant noted that artists are relatively more
\nconcerned, compared to the business community, regarding safe
\nsex.<\/p>\n
In business relations, "many would rather accept girls than
\nmoney" for bribes, he said.<\/p>\n
Titi said that though artists are concerned, the AIDS issue is
\nstill "frightening" and not openly discussed.<\/p>\n
Titi said she has plans to meet more fellow artists, to spread
\nawareness of HIV\/AIDS "in any way they can", to make the issue
\nless depressive.<\/p>\n
Her personal, simple way to attract attention to the issue,
\nshe said, is to walk into fast food restaurants, for instance,
\nand have a friend take a picture of her with a sign stating "I
\ncare about AIDS".<\/p>\n
"Then people get curious and I hand out the signs which carry
\nthe phone numbers of sources like Pelita Ilmu, where they can get
\nmore information," Titi said.<\/p>\n
More intensive campaigning is needed, she said, citing her
\nexperience with housewives who join her classes. Even if the
\nwomen are told that they could get the virus from husbands who
\nlook healthy, the women feel safe by "keeping clean and taking
\nshowers twice a day".<\/p>\n
Wellin, a singer, said artists also need practical information
\non how to persuade friends to take tests.<\/p>\n
Noorwati, a source person from Pelita Ilmu presented five
\ncases of people with AIDS, of which only one is still alive.<\/p>\n
She described the stress and fear of becoming severely ill and
\nof dying alone among the people who have AIDS.<\/p>\n
Noted doctor and advocate on AIDS, Samsuridjal Djauzi, urged
\nthe increased-role of artists to campaign for awareness of the
\nissue.<\/p>\n
"We hope artists can come up with creative ways that can reach
\nthe public" not only on how the virus is spread, but also on
\nfostering awareness that people with AIDS are not to be isolated,
\nSamsuridjal said. (anr)<\/p>",
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