11 more AIDS cases

11 more AIDS cases

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's official AIDS count continues its
steady increase, with 11 more people testing positive for Human
Immunodeficiency Virus in October, bringing the total to 355.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas told
reporters yesterday that Jakarta still tops the list with 118
cases, followed by Irian Jaya with 96, Bali with 33 and Riau and
East Java provinces with 29 each.

Government officials have admitted that the actual number of
HIV-positive people in Indonesia is likely to be 100 times over
the official number.

Azwar, who heads the national commission to counter the spread
of AIDS, told reporters that the government plans to launch a
massive campaign against the disease on Dec. 1, international
AIDS day.

Since it falls on Friday, the government has asked Moslem
preachers to take up the anti-AIDS campaign in their Friday
sermons, he said, adding that leaders of other religions will
also be asked to do their part.

The minister ruled out promoting the use of condoms in the
government's anti-AIDS campaign, saying that condoms only have a
26 percent safety rate.

"People should be encouraged to strengthen their faith," he
said, adding that condoms are only effective for family planning.
(emb)