Condom use still a major challenge to preventing HIV<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta<\/p>\n
Despite continuous campaigning, awareness among high-risk groups
\nof the benefit of using condoms remains a cause for concern among
\nactivists fighting the spread of HIV\/AIDS here.<\/p>\n
\"With between three million and five million men buying sex on
\na regular basis and rarely using condoms to protect themselves,
\nwe will certainly see thousands of new infections, not just among
\nmen but among their wives and children,\" United States Agency for
\nInternational Development (USAID) Director of the Office of
\nHealth Lynn Krueger Adrian said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
She was speaking during the launch of a wayang puppet show as
\na means to disseminate information on the risks of unprotected
\nsex and injecting drug use.<\/p>\n
Ignorance over the use condoms in the sex industry and the
\nincrease in the number of youths injecting drugs and sharing
\nunsterile needles have been blamed for the rapid spread of the
\nvirus in the country.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health estimates that up to 130,000 people
\nhave been infected with the virus while up to six million others
\nare at risk.<\/p>\n
Data from the non-governmental organization the AIDS
\nEradication Commission (KKI) reveals that up to 3.5 million men
\nare buying sex on a regular basis in the country, but only 14
\npercent of them use condoms.<\/p>\n
In some provinces the prevalence rate is considered high with
\none or more sex workers in 20 infected with the virus through
\ntheir customers.<\/p>\n
Elizabeth Pisani of the Family Health International-sponsored
\nStop AIDS Action (ASA) said in Surakarta, for example, one in
\nseven sex workers had the virus.<\/p>\n
\"Only by putting an end to high-risk behavior and reducing the
\nnumber of high-risk people can the spread of the HIV be
\ncontrolled,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The campaign's inaugural performance featured renowned
\npuppeteer Ki Enthus Susmono of Tegal, Central Java, held in the
\ncompound of Surakarta Palace.<\/p>\n
The HIV Indonesia Forum, ASA, KKI, USAID, Land O'Lakes. Inc.,
\nare sponsoring the program, in cooperation with the National
\nSecretariat of Indonesian Puppets (Senawangi) and the Association
\nof Indonesian Puppeteers (Pepadi) to mark World AIDS Day which
\nfalls on Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
Injecting drug use is another challenge in the fight against
\nHIV\/AIDS, due to the fact that the HIV prevalence rate among drug
\nusers in cities throughout the country stands at up to 60
\npercent.<\/p>\n
\"This is not an isolated problem. Drug users will infect non-
\ndrug users, they will have sexual partners, wives, and many will
\nhave children,\" Lynn Krueger Adrian said.<\/p>\n
The National Narcotics Body (BNN) has estimated that around
\none million Indonesians are using drugs and up to 145,000 of them
\nare injecting heroin and sharing needles among themselves.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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