Govt rules out promoting condoms in anti-AIDS drive<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government has ruled out promoting the use
\nof condoms in its anti-AIDS campaign, despite strong evidence of
\ntheir effectiveness in preventing the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n
\"Let me make it very clear to you, there is no condom-ization
\nin Indonesia,\" Minister of Health Sujudi said in keynote address
\nto a debate on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing the
\nspread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Sujudi recognized the effectiveness of condoms and said that
\nmarried couples should use them if one of the partners have been
\ninfected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). People who
\nfall into the \"high risk\" category should also use condoms, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
But there will be no massive scale campaign for condom use, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The condom debate was organized by the Indonesian Medical
\nAssociation in connection with the World AIDS Day, which fell on
\nFriday, Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
Held at University of Indonesia's School of Medicine, it
\nfeatured five speakers: former health minister Dr. Adhyatma;
\nlegislator Dr. Nafsiah Mboy; Dr. Sjamsurizal Djauzi, a physician
\nwho has a lot of experience with AIDS cases; Dr. Djubairi
\nDjoerban from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital and
\npsychiatrist Dadang Hawari.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Medical Association chairman Dr. Azrul Azwar
\nmoderated the debate. Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman
\nof Nahdlatul Ulama, was also billed in the debate but he failed
\nto show up.<\/p>\n
The government has refused to consent to any anti-AIDS
\ncampaign that promotes the use of condoms, chiefly because of
\nstrong objections from Moslem leaders who view such campaigns as
\nencouraging adultery and prostitution.<\/p>\n
Various non-governmental organizations have taken the
\ninitiative to promote the use of condoms as part of their anti-
\nAIDS drive. Some took their campaigns to red-light districts,
\ndistributing condoms for free.<\/p>\n
Most speakers, and some participants at the debate, agreed
\nthat there was strong evidence that condoms are effective in
\ncontaining the spread of AIDS, although they admitted that it is
\nonly one of several alternatives.<\/p>\n
Zubaedah Mochtar, a senior official of the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs who participated in the lively debate, said
\nthere is no regulation or law banning condom campaigns.<\/p>\n
\"Religions do not object the use of condoms. They object to
\nextramarital sex,\" Zubaedah said.<\/p>\n
Djubairi refuted suggestions that condoms are ineffective in
\npreventing AIDS because they have pores. He pointed out that
\nsince condoms had been effective in preventing venereal diseases,
\nthey should have the same effectiveness in preventing the spread
\nof HIV.<\/p>\n
Speakers suspected that many condoms had been ineffective
\nbecause they were defective, which does not mean their use should
\nbe discouraged.<\/p>\n
Nafsiah Mboy said condoms are only \"devices\" to fight against
\nAIDS.<\/p>\n
The most important thing is people's behavior. \"The person
\nmost responsible for the use of condoms are men, that is why they
\nhave to be responsible and practice safe sex,\" she said.<\/p>\n
In another discussion yesterday, this time attended by around
\n200 teenagers, anti-AIDS campaigner Nona Poeroe Utomo said AIDS
\ncan develop faster in Indonesia than in other countries.<\/p>\n
The HIV infection rate in Indonesia is higher than that in
\nsome developed countries, she told the discussion held by the
\nIndonesian AIDS Foundation.<\/p>\n
Another speaker in the discussion, psychologist Sarlito
\nWirawan Sarwono, advocated preventive measures against AIDS,
\nincluding the use of condoms.<\/p>\n
He claimed that there was not any HIV infection in the
\nNetherlands because \"people care enough to use condoms\". (31\/imn)<\/p>",
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