Government to boost campaign on HIV\/AIDS<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will intensify its campaign to
\nprevent the spread of HIV\/AIDS, which saw a significant number of
\ncases in June.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Health show that in June alone an
\nincrease of 118 cases of HIV and 76 cases of full blown AIDS were
\nreported.<\/p>\n
Director General of Communicable Diseases at the ministry,
\nUmar Fachmi Achmadi, said official figures now show that there
\nare a total of 1,572 patients infected with the Human Immuno-
\ndeficiency Virus (HIV) and 578 cases of Acquired Immune
\nDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the country.<\/p>\n
He said that while the largest number of those infected still
\nacquired the virus through sexual contact, the number has seen a
\nsteady increase since 1998 from drug users who share unsterile
\nsyringes.<\/p>\n
Umar also pointed out that the social and economic crises that
\nhas hit the country in recent years has seen many turning to the
\nsex industry and the drug trade to seek an income.<\/p>\n
\"The government will stick to its efforts to prevent the
\nspread, such as through campaigning the use of condoms. The
\ncurrent campaign faces hindrances as we cannot force people to
\nuse condoms.\"<\/p>\n
\"But, I think intensifying the use of condoms and distributing
\nsterile syringes for drugs users such as in European and American
\ncountries will be effective to curb the spread,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post on Friday.<\/p>\n
Official data has recorded the number of HIV\/AIDS patients in
\n23 provinces. There have been no reports submitted by Bengkulu,
\nCentral Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
He said the new cases reported in June are largely from Irian
\nJaya where 94 new HIV infections and 67 AIDS cases were reported.<\/p>\n
Overall, the highest number of AIDS cases reported is in
\nJakarta with 299 cases, followed by Irian Jaya with 210 cases,
\nWest Java with 37 cases, while Bali, East Java and Riau with 26,
\n22 and 14 cases respectively.<\/p>\n
\"We have learned that the virus spreads fastest in Irian Jaya
\nthrough sexual intercourse. We are thinking of encouraging the
\nissuance of a bylaw imposing the use of condoms in the province.
\nSo the use of condoms will become mandatory there,\" Umar said.<\/p>\n
Despite the official number given, many activists have pointed
\nout that it could merely be the tip of the iceberg given the
\nlarge population of the country and the lack of awareness and
\ncontrol of the spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
So far no known drug has been found to wholly cure HIV\/AIDS
\nassociated illnesses. Certain drugs help to alleviate the pain
\nand inhibit the spread of the virus within the body.<\/p>\n
Such therapy is estimated to cost Rp 90 million (US$7,800) per
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The United Nations last month devoted a three-day General
\nAssembly session in New York to seek a higher commitment to
\ncombat the global threat posed by the virus.<\/p>\n
\"In a round table discussion during the special session,
\npharmaceutical companies indirectly stated that they will lower
\nthe price of drugs needed in the therapy by 90 percent for
\ndeveloping countries,\" Umar revealed. (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-boost-campaign-on-hivaids-1447893297",
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