Networking of AIDS workers proposed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A leading member of the Indonesian AIDS
\nFoundation has proposed that all the organizations active in
\nefforts to contain the dreaded disease consult with one another
\nbefore taking their campaign to the public.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, moves to counter the spread of the Human
\nImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency
\nSyndrome (AIDS) are still sporadic and uncoordinated, according
\nto Emil Salim, a member of the foundation's board of trustees.
\nEmil was speaking to a seminar on AIDS organized by the Kompas
\ndaily newspaper on Monday.<\/p>\n
Even the foundation did not escape criticism, with Emil
\nsuggesting a restructuring to make its work more effective.<\/p>\n
\"With the current situation of AIDS in the country, I would
\nthink that the first step to take is to create an atmosphere of
\nawareness among non-government organizations (NGOs), which can
\nlater be extended to the public,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Emphasizing the importance of coordination among NGOs, Emil
\nsaid a restructuring of the foundation would change its role so
\nthat it became more of a financial source and an umbrella
\norganization, as opposed to an organization working directly in
\nthe field.<\/p>\n
Members of the Indonesian AIDS Foundation, which was
\nestablished last year, include former health minister, Dr.
\nAdhyatma, psychologist Sarlito Wirawan, and business people Ibnu
\nSutowo and Jakob Oetama.<\/p>\n
Restructuring the foundation, which is strong in financial
\nsources and credibility, would allow it to channel its funds to
\nNGOs according to a set of priorities, Emil said.<\/p>\n
\"AIDS-prevention NGOs need a solid network and the foundation
\ncan provide the supervision and guidance to smaller, local NGOs
\nso they can understand the seriousness of the issue without
\ngetting 'scared' of it or backing out,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Emil said that, compared with NGOs in other fields or in other
\ncountries, AIDS-prevention NGOs in Indonesia were still at \"pre-
\nschool\" level and needed to be given a lot of basic information.<\/p>\n
Nafsiah Mboi, a legislator and a member of the National AIDS
\nCommission, said the AIDS epidemic had entered Indonesia as early
\nas 1985 but had received hardly any publicity at that time.<\/p>\n
Now it had reached the stage where it endangered \"good,
\nfaithful housewives who engage in sexual intercourse with no one
\nelse but their husbands,\" she told the meeting.<\/p>\n
At the last count in January, some 280 people in Indonesia
\ntested positive for HIV, although government officials and AIDS
\nworkers believe that the actual number of people who have
\ncontracted the virus is already in the thousands.<\/p>\n
Emil, who is former minister of environment, said that there
\nwere varying levels of professionalism, awareness and skill among
\nNGO activists and that a wide gap existed, for example, between
\nNGOs in Jakarta and those in the remote areas of Aceh and Irian
\nJaya.<\/p>\n
\"After restructuring, we need sound leadership and after that
\nwe can talk with sponsors, for instance, about funding activities
\nand priority programs,\" he said. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/networking-of-aids-workers-proposed-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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