143 Jakartans now infected with HIV/AIDS

JAKARTA (JP): The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Jakarta has increased from 140 people in May to 143 in June.

An official of the city health agency, Rasyid Piarah, said yesterday that according to a report collected from the hospitals, laboratories and private doctors, three more people were found infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV.

"In June, 89 people were infected with HIV, while the number of people with full-blown AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is 54 people," Rasjid said.

He said that 30 out of the 54 people were dead.

Rasjid said that the data does not represent the real situation.

"It is hard to conclude whether most of the victims are homosexuals or live in South Jakarta," he said.

Rasjid also said 39 percent of the victims are homosexual, 29 percent are heterosexual, 3.3 percent are drug addicts, 2.5 percent are infected through blood transfusions, while the causes for 24 percent of the victims are unknown.

He said 17 percent of the victims are living in South Jakarta, but 50 percent cannot be identified.

He said 70 percent of the victims are Indonesians, 37 percent are foreigners and 6.5 percent cannot be identified.

The city administration launched an AIDS/HIV preventive program yesterday in cooperation with five non-government organizations in Jakarta.

Rasjid said that in the 1995/1996 fiscal year, the city administration allocated Rp 1 billion for AIDS/HIV preventive programs.

Sixty percent of the funds were used to help non-governmental organization activities.

Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said that the program includes a public presentation on the virus. It is aimed at increasing public awareness.

"One of the programs is through religion," the governor said. He said following religious guidelines will help people avoid contracting the virus, although this approach has received much criticism.

Rasjid said the administration will continue such programs which involve non-governmental organizations, because it is more effective in preventing the spread of the virus. (yns)