The tip of the iceberg<\/p>\n
It is certainly not to sound an undue alarm that we quote the
\nfacts and figures that follow. But we believe it is advisable
\nthat we all take heed of the information revealed by public
\nhealth expert Ascobat Gani at a seminar in Jakarta over the
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
Addressing the audience of the seminar held under the ongoing
\nAustralia Today '94 program, Gani said that a possible upsurge of
\nAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in Indonesia
\nmight occur in the not so distant future and warned that such a
\nturn might place too heavy a burden on the nation's health
\nfunding resources.<\/p>\n
The number of people in Indonesia who are already infected by
\nthe Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is at present officially
\nput at 213, he said. However, because as a rule official
\nestimates show only the tip of the iceberg, it can be assumed
\nthat the great majority of cases remain unknown. This is the case
\nin developing countries in general, because cases either go
\nunrecognized or unreported. In Indonesia, officials are reported
\nto have acknowledged that the actual number could be 200 times as
\nhigh as the one recorded.<\/p>\n
To be sure, a little more than 42,000 people does not sound
\nlike many, given the total of HIV-infected people so far recorded
\nworldwide. According to a recent report published by the
\nWashington-based Worldwatch Institute, 15 million to 23 million
\npeople have been infected by the virus worldwide since the
\n1970s. Of those, some three million to five million have
\ndeveloped AIDS and about two-thirds of that number have died.
\nLast year alone, between two million and three million people
\naround the world were reported infected by the HIV virus which
\ncauses AIDS.<\/p>\n
One clear trend cited in the report is that despite an
\nincreased awareness of the disease, the HIV\/AIDS pandemic is
\ncontinuing to spread unabated and the cases of AIDS that develop
\nfrom HIV infections during the next decade could bankrupt the
\nhealth care systems in many countries. A recent report published
\nby the World Health Organization (WHO) even noted an explosive
\nincrease of people infected by the HIV virus in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
Clearly, in the light of these developments, more effective
\nmeasures to stem, or at least slow down, the progress of the
\ndisease is called for. At present, according to Dr. Gani, the
\ngovernment can provide only 30 percent of health expenditures
\nwhile \"the majority of people rely on out-of-pocket payment
\nmechanisms\". This cost burden appears to be bound to grow in the
\nfuture. The problem is that while poverty-related diseases, such
\nas infections and tuberculosis remain prevalent, affluence-
\nrelated diseases such as heart disease are increasing.<\/p>\n
Considering all that has been said, it seems clear that
\npreventive measures are in order to fight the growing AIDS threat
\nin this country. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done,
\nespecially since established habits and preconceptions have to be
\ndealt with. Perhaps it is time we opened our minds and tried to
\nlearn from the experience of the industrially advanced countries,
\nsuch as the United States and some Western European nations,
\nwhere the HIV\/AIDS pandemic is reported to have about leveled
\noff.<\/p>\n
It seems that in dealing with this admittedly fearful disease,
\nmany of us tend to be either too indifferent or too nervous, as
\nwas demonstrated by the rejection some time ago of the world-
\nrenowned basketball star Earl \"Magic\" Johnson. We believe it is
\nimportant that a thorough awareness of AIDS is established in
\nthis country, particularly among the young. To do this, however,
\nit is imperative that we look at the problem calmly and
\nrationally, and then utilize all the resources we have at our
\ndisposal to stem the disease. Frightening as it may be, we
\nbelieve that it is not something against which nothing can be
\ndone.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-tip-of-the-iceberg-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}