RI queries AIDS-free certificate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An Irian Jaya health official says he doubts the
\nvalidity of AIDS-free certificates Thailand has issued to its
\nfishermen working in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Antara quoted Dr. Gunawan of the Ministry of Health's
\nprovincial office as saying in Jayapura yesterday that his office
\nhad found Thai fishermen who either had AIDS or were HIV-
\npositive, despite having just come from Thailand and possessing
\nthe certificates.<\/p>\n
A team from Gunawan's office made the discoveries after taking
\nblood samples from Thai fishermen working in fishery companies in
\nthe Merauke regency.<\/p>\n
"This is why we'll continue testing their blood, despite the
\ncertificates," Gunawan said.<\/p>\n
According to official statistics, the number of people with
\nAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Irian Jaya is 21, while 97
\nothers have tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the
\nvirus that leads to AIDS. The total number of people with
\nAIDS\/HIV in Indonesia was 501 in January.<\/p>\n
Adrie Kaleb, the spokesman for a fishing company in Merauke,
\nsaid the firm's foreign employees had to undergo thorough medical
\nexaminations at the Mahachey Hospital in Bangkok before being
\nemployed.<\/p>\n
Adrie also said that in 1996 his company stopped having its
\ndoctors examine fishermen's blood samples because the health
\nofficials insisted that only they had the authority to perform
\nthe examinations.<\/p>\n
"We usually send our foreign fishermen home if they're found
\nto have AIDS," Adrie said. "The problem has been that they
\nusually complained because, having the certificates, they did not
\nbelieve they had AIDS."<\/p>\n
According to the news agency, 50 Thai fishermen have been
\nshipped home because they had AIDS or HIV. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-queries-aids-free-certificate-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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