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.