Women with HIV\/AIDS need 'greater care'<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Frika Iskandar says it took her over a year to accept that she
\nwas HIV positive. Of course, she was only 18 when she learned she
\nhad the virus.<\/p>\n
Six years later, much more assured and confident, the 24-year-
\nold student has accepted that she is HIV positive, but what she
\ncannot accept is that women living with HIV\/AIDS in Indonesia
\nhave a much tougher time than men infected with the virus.<\/p>\n
\"Access to health services, particularly women's reproductive
\nhealth services, is very limited. It is difficult even to get a
\nPap smear. The staff at hospitals and clinics often do not want
\nto do it because we are HIV positive. And if they do, we have to
\npay more,\" she told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a
\ndiscussion on women living with HIV\/AIDS last Thursday.<\/p>\n
The types of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs available here are
\nalso limited, while the ones that are available, such as
\nEfavirenz, can affect fertility and damage fetuses.<\/p>\n
\"Limited access to health services and drugs are very serious
\nbecause the number of opportunistic infections for women is
\nhigher (than for men). Yet there is very little information about
\nit,\" Frika said.<\/p>\n
The patriarchal society in the country creates a double stigma
\nfor women living with HIV\/AIDS, who are often assumed to be drug
\naddicts or sex workers.<\/p>\n
Also, the generally weaker position women occupy in the family
\nand society, a lack of education and skills, as well as economic
\ndependency on men, mean women living with HIV\/AIDS are often on
\ntheir own in dealing with the disease.<\/p>\n
\"Despite their ailment, women still have to serve their
\nfamilies. They also often lose custody of their children once
\nthey are infected with HIV,\" said Frika, who has actively been
\ninvolved in local campaigns to fight HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
Because of this many women are reluctant to talk about their
\nsituation, which has led to the underreporting of the number of
\ncases of women living with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
Women's activist Debra Yatim compared the double stigma and
\ndiscrimination faced by women living with HIV\/AIDS with men and
\nwomen who were homosexuals.<\/p>\n
\"When a man comes out of the closet and tell people he is gay,
\nsomehow people are more tolerant. But it is different with women
\nwho say they are lesbian,\" she said during the discussion on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The situation has prompted organizations dealing with HIV\/AIDS
\nto launch the Indonesian Positive Women's Agreement (IPPI) aimed
\nto shine a light on the unique problems and needs of women living
\nwith HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
\"Women with HIV\/AIDS have their own specific problems that
\nneed special handling, but they have never been accommodated by
\nany support groups in Indonesia,\" Frika said.<\/p>\n
She said IPPI was a network that helped members meet the needs
\nof women living with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
\"Aside from exchanging information, we also ask for greater
\ninvolvement from every party, not just people living with
\nHIV\/AIDS,\" Frika said.<\/p>\n
She voiced concern over women's organizations, which she said
\nseemed detached from HIV\/AIDS issues.<\/p>\n
\"It is different in Thailand, where the women's organizations
\nare united. Here, despite the same goals, it is tough to get them
\nunited.<\/p>\n
\"HIV is a very complicated issue, particularly for women. It
\ntakes networking and a collective effort to help women feel more
\nconfident and supported,\" Frika said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/women-with-hivaids-need-greater-care-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}