JP\/6\/YULIA<\/p>\n
Indonesia in danger of HIV\/AIDS explosion in 2005<\/p>\n
Yulia Wardhani
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
There has recently been a shift in the perception of HIV\/AIDS
\nthat has accompanied the increasing number of intravenous drug
\nusers (IDUs) who have become HIV positive.<\/p>\n
I was recently lecturing on the dangers of illegal drugs and
\nHIV\/AIDS at a leading high school in Jakarta when a student
\nasked: \"My brother is HIV positive. Can he be cured?\"<\/p>\n
There were no hints of gloom, fear or embarrassment on the
\nstudent's face. There was only the curiosity about his brother's
\nprospects for recovery -- the hope that his brother could again
\nbe smiling.<\/p>\n
Can HIV\/AIDS be cured? It is a classic question that I have
\nbeen asked hundreds of times in the course of meeting with
\nstudents. Before answering it, a brief description of HIV\/AIDS is
\nnecessary.<\/p>\n
AIDS is not inherited. It is caused by a virus called HIV, or
\nthe Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which can enter the body via
\nsexual contact, sharing contaminated needles or contaminated
\nblood or blood tissues.<\/p>\n
Formerly, the main entry point for the virus was sexual
\ncontact. But at present it is shifting toward IDUs sharing
\nneedles. The Pelita Ilmu Foundation conducted a recent survey
\ninvolving 500 drug users, and the majority of them were found to
\nbe HIV positive. Consider the large number of IDUs in the country
\nand you can imagine the extent of HIV infection.<\/p>\n
HIV\/AIDS cannot be spread by shaking hands, kissing or by
\nsitting on a toilet. Therefore, there is no reason to isolate
\nthose living with HIV\/AIDS or fear interaction with infected
\npeople.<\/p>\n
About two months after becoming HIV positive, a person will
\nshow the following symptoms: fever, night sweats, loss of
\nappetite, joint and muscle pain, headaches, skin rashes and
\nswollen lymphatic glands. However, the person will still look
\nhealthy. You cannot identify a person who is HIV positive just by
\nlooking at them.<\/p>\n
Can HIV\/AIDS be cured? The answer is not certain, depending on
\nresearch being done by the experts. There are anti-viral
\nmedicines, but they only prevent the virus from spreading. These
\ndrugs, however, do not kill the virus, and they are fairly
\nexpensive.<\/p>\n
With the increasing number of drug users and the rising rate
\nof HIV\/AIDS cases, experts fear Indonesia could experience an
\nexplosion of HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
What lies ahead for the country? Unless the government and all
\nof us respond to this situation, in the next 15 to 20 years
\nIndonesia may rank second only behind Thailand in the number of
\nHIV\/AIDS cases in the region.<\/p>\n
The nation's future could be at risk by an explosion of
\nHIV\/AIDS. Socioeconomic conditions will deteriorate the more
\npeople in the productive age group are HIV positive, and as the
\ngovernment allocates larger and larger amounts of money to try
\nand control HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
What can be done? We can start promoting a healthy lifestyle.
\nEncourage safe sex and the correct use of condoms. Screen all
\nblood used in transfusions and reduce the negative impacts of
\nintravenous drug use, while giving treatment, care and social
\nsupport to people living with HIV\/AIDS. Education, information
\nand training to prevent drug abuse, unsafe sex and HIV\/AIDS
\nshould be pursued, along with treatment research and development.<\/p>\n
The writer is a lecturer at the St. Carolus School of Nursing
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp6yulia-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}