HIV\/AIDS cases increase sharply in northeast W. Java<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java<\/p>\n
The number of people with HIV\/AIDS has increased sharply in the
\nnortheast coastal areas of West Java in the past two years
\nbecause of increased drug use and prostitution in the area.<\/p>\n
Akhmad Jumarma, coordinator of the Sidikara Foundation, a non-
\ngovernmental organization working on the prevention of the spread
\nof HIV\/AIDS, said on Friday that the foundation had recorded 63
\npeople with HIV\/AIDS in the coastal areas by the end of 2001.<\/p>\n
\"Data for 1999 showed that there were only 14 people with
\nHIV\/AIDS. This means that the number has increased by four times
\nwithin this two-year period,\" Akhmad said.<\/p>\n
West Java's northeast coastal areas include Bekasi, Karawang,
\nCirebon, Indramayu and Kuningan regencies.<\/p>\n
Akhmad said his foundation's research showed that the sharp
\nincrease had been caused by two things: the increase of drug
\nusers who shared needles and the rising number of sex workers.<\/p>\n
The highest drug increase was recorded in Bekasi, while
\nincreases in prostitution occurred in Indramayu, Cirebon,
\nKerawang and Kuningan.<\/p>\n
\"Our survey shows that in Cirebon, Indramayu and Kuningan
\nregencies, the number of sex workers has increased and they have
\nspread out to more areas. This has caused a rapid spread of the
\nvirus,\" Akhmad added.<\/p>\n
He noted that the number of people with HIV\/AIDS recorded by
\nhis office was in all probability only the tip of the iceberg and
\nthat the actual number could be much higher.<\/p>\n
This northeast area has about 40 percent of the total cases of
\npeople with HIV\/AIDS in West Java, which by the end of 2001
\nreached 172 people. Bandung recorded the highest number of people
\nwith HIV\/AIDS with 68 people.<\/p>\n
Nationally, according to government data, there are around
\n120,000 people with HIV\/AIDS in the country, with three provinces
\n-- Bali, Papua and Jakarta -- having the most cases.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Health, most of those infected
\npeople contracted HIV\/AIDS through sexual contact. Some others
\ngot it through shared needles.<\/p>\n
The government launched a national movement on April 24 this
\nyear to fight the spread of HIV\/AIDS in the country with
\nofficials pledging some Rp 200 billion annually for the campaign
\nto provide more affordable treatment for AIDS victims.<\/p>\n
In addition, the government also aims to provide easy access
\nfor people with AIDS to medical assistance such as counseling,
\nHIV tests, Anti Retroviral (ARV) drugs, and pain killers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hivaids-cases-increase-sharply-in-northeast-w-java-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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