A generation of lost children

A generation of lost children

I absolutely agree with Steven Woodhouse from Unicef and
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty
Eradication Basri Hasanuddin's worry and fear about "losing a
generation of children in Indonesia today". And expanding into
this "unfolding tragic story" is the fact of the fierce and rapid
escalation of drug addiction, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis which is
claiming the lives of so many of our young Indonesian boys and
girls today.

More and more of our "young children" who cannot afford to go
to school, who drop out of school for economic reasons, and those
who must live within the families' poverty are turning to drugs
for reasons of "escape, from the poverty and sorrow of their
lives". Many young girls and boys are being forced into the
business of prostitution because of their families' poverty, and
having little choice as how to help their family earn enough
money for food, shelter and clothing.

Each day now we see, and admit, more "drug addicts" into
Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita. We verify more drug addicts
are becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis each time we
"blood test" these young addicts. We hear stories of more and
more young people turning to drugs for recreation and escape from
the pressures and stresses of their everyday lives.

Poverty always creates more addicts, plus addiction coproduces
many drug dealers, much more crime and violence. Today, addicts
are spreading the HIV/AIDS and hepatitis viruses at alarming
rates throughout Indonesia.

We forecast losing a million plus young people to addiction,
HIV/AIDS and hepatitis over the first coming years of the new
millennium.

Mr. Woodhouse and minister Hasanuddin are heartfully correct,
"we must do something now to save the children of Indonesia". A
united effort must be undertaken to battle poverty, addiction,
HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. We have little time to waste if we
sincerely do not wish to lose a generation of our young people,
or have a generation of lost children roaming the streets of
Indonesia.

DAVID and JOYCE DJAELANI GORDON

Program Directors - Yayasan

Harapan Permata Hati Kita

Bogor, West Java