Public urged to join fight against AIDS<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): \"Shared right, shared responsibility\", the theme
\nof this year's International AIDS Day, means everyone should be
\ninvolved in the fight against the disease, Minister of Health
\nSujudi said.<\/p>\n
Sujudi made his remarks in a ceremony marking AIDS Day
\nyesterday, calling on all people, whether or not affected by the
\nAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, to join the campaign.<\/p>\n
\"The fight against AIDS can only be effective if it becomes
\nthe right as well as the responsibility of everybody worldwide,\"
\nhe said. \"The disease is our enemy and we all should fight it
\ntogether.\"<\/p>\n
He said everyone has the right to obtain accurate information
\non how to avoid AIDS, while those already infected by the Human
\nImmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or those with full-blown AIDS have
\nthe right to proper medical care and nondiscriminatory treatment.<\/p>\n
In addition, everyone is responsible for protecting themselves
\nand others from the disease, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Men, because of their dominant status in society, should be
\nresponsible and practice safe sexual behavior,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
The AIDS Day commemoration at the Ministry of Health was
\norganized by the ministry and the Ford Foundation. It was
\nattended by 300 participants, including Martina Wijaja of the
\nIndonesian AIDS Foundation, representative of the Ford Foundation
\nRosalia Sciortino.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Sujudi attached anti-AIDS stickers to
\nseveral cars in front of the Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman
\nDjojonegoro launched an anti-AIDS drive for students by handing
\nover 600,000 stickers to students representing 60 universities in
\n14 provinces. He also led the students in attaching the stickers
\non cars at the ministry office.<\/p>\n
Students<\/p>\n
He said students should stand in the front line of the anti-
\nAIDS campaign in the country.<\/p>\n
At around the same time yesterday, rectors of the 60
\nuniversities also led similar ceremonies and launched the drive
\non their individual campuses.<\/p>\n
International AIDS Day was commemorated for the first time on
\nDec. 1, 1988, something that was agreed upon in a meeting of
\nhealth ministers in Paris in the same year. Last year's theme of
\nthe International AIDS Day was AIDS and Family.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said the activities leading up to and during AIDS Day
\nwere not meant to glorify the disease. Instead, the day should
\nserve as a reminder to everybody to strengthen their commitment
\nto fight the disease, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Here, we fight the disease, not its sufferers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A number of activities were held concurrently yesterday, from
\nseminars, to distribution of anti-AIDS stickers and flyers, to
\nthe establishment of hot line services.<\/p>\n
As of October, Indonesia has had 355 reported cases of HIV
\ninfection; of the figure, 86 people have developed full-blown
\nAIDS and 55 have died.<\/p>\n
Out of the recorded cases, 294 people (83 percent) contracted
\nHIV\/AIDS by sexual transmission, eight people (2 percent) by
\nblood transfusion, and 53 people (15 percent) by unknown causes,
\nthough suspected to also be through sexual transmission, Sujudi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sujudi also said that 284 people with AIDS, or 80 percent of
\nthe total figure, were between the ages of 20 and 39 years. Five
\npercent of the cases, or 18 people, were between the ages of 15
\nand 19 years old, while 29 people (8 percent) were aged between
\n40 and 49 years old.<\/p>\n
The remainder are people from other age groups.<\/p>\n
In January, the World Health Organization reported about 19
\nmillion HIV\/AIDS cases worldwide, mostly in Africa. In the year
\n2000, it predicted that there will be 30 to 40 million people
\ninfected with HIV\/AIDS worldwide.<\/p>\n
Commenting on use of condoms to prevent AIDS, Sujudi only said
\nthat the government \"cannot tell or order people to use condoms
\nto prevent the spread of AIDS\".<\/p>\n
The government had earlier refused to consent to any campaign
\nwhich encouraged the use of condoms because of strong objections
\nfrom Moslem leaders who viewed such campaigns as encouraging
\nadultery and prostitution.<\/p>\n
The AIDS Day commemoration was highlighted by a pantomime
\nentitled Free Sex, and a short film about AIDS.<\/p>\n
The organizer of the event also announced yesterday the
\nwinners of poster and writing competitions on AIDS for high
\nschool students and the general public.<\/p>\n
Student winners of poster drawing competitions were Edo
\nAriesta, Restuanda, Joko Setyo Purnomo, Slamet Widado and Margono
\nHidayanto. Winners from the public were Nanang Kuswana, T. Budi
\nS., Bagus Saptaji, Dafit Djahari and Nono Tri Nugroho.<\/p>\n
The winners of the writing competition were Ucu Nurhadiat,
\nRuth Mose, Putu Sukartini, Kusdiantoro, Diana Wibawa, Een
\nAndriani, Sicilia Leiwakabessy, Susanti Purnomo, Adila Astiena,
\nFX Suarif A., Erna Surjadi, Kun Priambodo, Meta Laksmi, Andung
\nPrihadi, Sri Widada and Aji M.A. Munandar. (31)<\/p>\n
Hotline -- Page 3<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>\n
WHO -- Page 11<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-urged-to-join-fight-against-aids-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }