Fighting AIDS requires hard work<\/p>\n
By Nafsiah Mboi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): This is an open letter to all those concerned
\nabout the threat of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS to
\nIndonesians. It is intended as a clarification of my views and,
\nat the same time, as a plea for complete commitment in our fight
\nagainst the disease and for support for people living with
\nHIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
I have often been quoted, misquoted, maligned and praised in
\nthe media in relation to the issue. People ask: \"Actually, what
\ndo you think?\"<\/p>\n
I know that journalists have to meet deadlines and fight for
\nspace. They must write what they believe to be important. I am
\nafraid, however, that some of my principles have been
\nmisunderstood.<\/p>\n
There are three fundamental concerns which must be central in
\nour response to AIDS in Indonesia. I think all three are equally
\nimportant and that they are mutually supportive and
\ncomplimentary. I believe we must concern ourselves with people,
\nwith information and with teamwork.<\/p>\n
1. People: When we are talking about people living with
\nHIV\/AIDS we must always remember that our concern is, indeed, the
\nperson, not the disease. Furthermore, we should focus on (i) life
\nand living; (ii) rights and responsibilities; and (iii)
\n\"togetherness\" -- the sharing of responsibility. All of us will
\ndie one day but that is not the focus of our life. Indonesia has
\nsince its independence been concerned with improving the quality
\nof life for all people. We want everyone to have the best
\npossible quality of life.<\/p>\n
I believe that no one should be excluded from that concern
\ntoday simply because they have the misfortune to be infected with
\na particular virus, HIV. Experience around the globe has
\ndemonstrated that, for people living with HIV\/AIDS as well as
\ntheir care-givers (volunteers, professionals and family members)
\nthe positive approach is far more useful than the negative. It
\npromotes and helps sustain more self-reliant action by the
\npositive person him or herself and those in the immediate
\nenvironment. It creates a climate of opinion in which it is
\neasier to address the difficult problem of discrimination, a
\nprofoundly human issue in the war against HIV\/AIDS. The cry from
\npositive people around the world \"I want help to live
\nproductively, not years of preparing for a dignified death!\" must
\nbe heeded.<\/p>\n
We do not yet have, in Indonesia, any positive people who
\nchoose to make a public stand, saying \"I am positive. I want to
\nwork with others in the war against AIDS.\" That is, in large
\nmeasure, because we have not yet been able to create a climate in
\nwhich those infected and affected can feel safe from social
\nisolation or personal attack. The loss is ours. We need the help
\nof positive people in our HIV\/AIDS education programs. We need
\ntheir input in planning for the future. We need their energy and
\ntheir knowledge about what it is like to live with HIV\/AIDS if we
\nare to serve others effectively in the future.<\/p>\n
2. Information: Indonesia's national AIDS strategy, based on
\nministerial decree number 9\/KEP\/MENKO\/KESRA\/VI of June 16, 1994,
\nsets forth nine basic principles to guide us all in our response
\nto the AIDS epidemic in Indonesia. The strategy was drafted
\nthrough a uniquely Indonesian process of consultation both inside
\ngovernment and within the NGO community. It represents a broad
\nspectrum of opinion. Principle number five reads: \"Every person
\nhas the right to accurate information in order to protect him or
\nherself and others against HIV infection.\"<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, \"every person\" embraces many millions of people
\n-- rich and poor, urban and rural, educated and illiterate.<\/p>\n
The strategy commits us to try to get accurate information to
\neveryone, to empower them with information so they can live a
\nlife safe from infection and, thus, participate in the national
\neffort to \"win the war against HIV\/AIDS\". Furthermore, the
\nstrategy makes clear that we, in Indonesia, have three important
\napproaches, each of which has a place in our national effort and
\neach of which will reach some of the people: family resilience,
\nthe message of religion, and the \"public health\" approach (condom
\nuse and STD control). In my view, then, it is incumbent upon all
\nof us who consider ourselves AIDS activists to understand and
\ncommunicate all three approaches. We do a disservice to our
\ncombined efforts if we discredit each other. And we prevent
\npeople from making their own free, appropriate and responsible
\nchoice if we provide information on only one approach or another.<\/p>\n
3. Teamwork: Again, we will not win this war unless we combine
\nour efforts into one, well-coordinated team. Our national motto
\nis \"Unity in Diversity\" and I believe that this philosophy and
\npractice must be adhered to in our responses to HIV\/AIDS. Unity
\nin our principles, diversity in our action. Unity in our combined
\nefforts, diversity in our respective activities. Government and
\ncommunity groups must stay in touch with each other -- sometimes
\nworking side-by-side in the field, sometimes reaching out to
\ndifferent groups in different ways -- but understanding the
\nimportance of the distinct effort of each.<\/p>\n
Government can help in legitimizing the \"war\", recruiting and
\nmobilizing vast numbers of people to accept and join the national
\neffort. Community organizations can assure equity in the effort
\nby working for and supporting distinctive groups which might
\notherwise be by-passed, overlooked, excluded or blamed. The issue
\nis not one of \"good\" and \"bad\" people. The issue is diversity,
\nthe richness of Indonesian culture and religion; variety in
\nvalues and lifestyles. Only through a team effort can we mount
\nand sustain the multi-faceted effort needed to slow and
\nultimately halt the spread of infection as well as care and
\nsupport -- socially, spiritually, economically, medically --
\nthose who are infected.<\/p>\n
There will surely be people who say this is an unrealistic
\nmessage, that the world of government and the world of the people
\nare too different. My experience leads me to believe that, while
\nit is not easy, there is no other effective way to work. I
\nrecognize that there are good people and bad, wise people and
\nsilly, in both the government and the community.<\/p>\n
But only if we work together can we achieve the critical mass
\nnecessary to slow and ultimately overcome the ravages that
\nHIV\/AIDS will bring to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The struggle in which we engage now will be long and hard. I
\nbelieve that we cannot win the war if we allow ourselves to break
\nup into separate factions to fight alone. In the case of AIDS, we
\nhave one enemy -- HIV, the virus which leads to AIDS -- and we
\nmust fight one war against this common enemy. Our national
\nstrategy provides a clear framework to guide us all.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, although most have not yet been identified,
\ntens of thousands of Indonesians have already been infected with
\nthe virus. All of those people have friends, family, co-workers
\nand neighbors who will be affected as time goes on. Let us work
\nhard now to develop the skills, habits, attitudes, and facilities
\nneeded to provide them with the services they will need to
\nmaintain a productive and satisfying life as long as possible. We
\nhave no time to waste.<\/p>\n
Dr. Nafsiah Mboi is a prominent AIDS activist, a pediatrician
\nand Master of Public Health who worked for 30 years at the health
\nministry before becoming a member of the House of Representatives
\nthree years ago.<\/p>\n
Window A: We need the help of positive people in our HIV\/AIDS
\neducation programs.<\/p>\n
Window B: In the case of AIDS, we have one enemy -- HIV, the virus
\nwhich leads to AIDS -- and we must fight one war against this
\ncommon enemy.<\/p>",
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