Papuans educated on HIV\/AIDS<\/p>\n
HIV\/AIDS is a major problem in Papua, with over 60,000 people at
\nrisk of being infected with the virus. To tackle the problem, the
\ngovernment and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have
\nundertaken a number of campaigns, including an HIV\/AIDS
\nprevention campaign. The NGOs and the government have also been
\nurged to provide care for those Papuans living with HIV\/AIDS who
\nhave been ostracized by their communities. The Jakarta Post
\ncorrespondent Nethy Dharma Somba looks at the issue in this
\nspecial report.<\/p>\n
The spread of HIV\/AIDS in Papua has been alarming since the virus
\nwas first detected in the province 11 years ago. The Papuan
\nHealth Office estimates that 62,210 people across the province
\nare at risk of being infected with HIV\/AIDS. The HIV\/AIDS virus
\nfirst appeared in the province in Merauke, Papua, allegedly
\ntransmitted to sex workers by Thai fishermen. It has now spread
\nto the remotest areas of the province.<\/p>\n
\"The virus has spread faster than the efforts being made to
\ncurb it,\" said the head of the Papua HIV\/AIDS Eradication
\nCommittee (KPAD), Constant Karma, who is also the vice governor
\nof the province.<\/p>\n
According to the Papua Health Office, the people most at risk
\nof infection from the virus are drug addicts who share needles,
\ntheir sexual partners, female, male and transvestite sex workers
\nand their customers.<\/p>\n
The estimated 60,000 at risk of infection is a significant
\nnumber out of a total population of 2,516,310, consisting of
\n1,322,890 men and 1,193,420 women.<\/p>\n
The health office estimates that there are currently 11,042
\npeople in the province living with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
That estimate is much higher than that the 1,910 HIV\/AIDS
\ncases actually reported to the health office. The main cause of
\nHIV\/AIDS transmission in Papua is through sexual intercourse.<\/p>\n
Most of the people infected with HIV\/AIDS are in their
\nproductive years, between the ages of 15 and 39.<\/p>\n
To curb the spread of the virus, the Papua KPAD, in
\ncooperation with a number of non-governmental organizations,
\nintroduced a campaign several years ago promoting the use of
\ncondoms. However, many religious groups have criticized the
\ncampaign, fearing that it will encourage sex outside of marriage.<\/p>\n
\"Religious leaders only suggest that we resort to prayer.
\nPrayer certainly strengthens a person's faith, but prayer alone
\nis not enough if there is no other action. Does not God expect us
\nto pray and also to work hard?\" said an HIV\/AIDS activist from
\nthe Jayapura Support Group, Robert Sihombing.<\/p>\n
Robert said those people engaged in high-risk behavior, such
\nas having intercourse with a sex worker, were especially
\nencouraged to wear a condom. In addition to its condom campaign,
\nthe KPAD is also empowering younger people through positive
\nactivities such as a band contest currently being held in
\nJayapura.<\/p>\n
\"Such an event is aimed at providing youths with positive
\nactivities, because they are prone to temptations at that age. If
\nthey do not have worthwhile things to do, it could lead to drugs,
\nsex and other activities that might lead to the spread of
\nHIV\/AIDS,\" said the executive director of Papua KPAD, PS Ukung.<\/p>\n
Another campaign being waged by the Papua NGOs is aimed at
\neducating the population about people living with HIV\/AIDS. This
\ncampaign is important because many people still refuse to accept
\nthe presence of people living with HIV\/AIDS in their communities.<\/p>\n
Not only do people ostracize them, but medical workers have
\nalso discriminated against people living with HIV\/AIDS. This was
\nthe case of a Sorong resident, Tom (not his real name), 42, who
\nrequired dental care after a motorcycle accident but kept being
\nturned away by dentists.<\/p>\n
\"Each time I went to the dentist to fix my teeth, I was always
\nhonest and told them that I had HIV\/AIDS. They always rejected me
\nand only gave me a prescription. Do you think that medicine can
\nfix my teeth,\" Tom told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"People living with HIV\/AIDS are still looked down upon and
\nostracized. If this goes on, efforts by the government and
\nHIV\/AIDS activists to stop the rapid spread of the virus in Papua
\nwill be fruitless,\" said Robert.<\/p>",
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