47 people living with HIV/AIDS in Bali

47 people living with HIV/AIDS in Bali

DENPASAR: There are 47 people living with HIV/AIDS in Bali,
though it is believed that many cases are not reported.

The head of Bali's committee focusing on the Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), I Gusti Agung Mayun Eman, was quoted
Monday by Antara as saying that although the figures were small
compared to Bali's population of 2.8 million people, much of the
development of the virus was difficult to monitor.

His written statement was read at a function to commemorate
the 39th anniversary of the Indonesian Family Planning
Association (PKBI) in Denpasar.

The concern, he said, was greater because of the economic
crisis, though he did not elaborate. Mayun Eman cited the
tendency toward a life that "neglects religious norms" as one
factor which led to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The head of Bali's PKBI, Mangku Karmaya, said so far there
were 335 volunteers helping to monitor the development of
HIV/AIDS in the province.