Activists spread word about AIDS in street cafes

Activists spread word about AIDS in street cafes

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Teenagers are always eager to learn new things,
which is vital for their personal and intellectual development.
But without proper information, they could become a victim of
their own curiosity.

That's why teenagers, and adults under 30 years of age were
the main target of Yayasan Pelita Ilmu (Pelita Ilmu Foundation),
which works on AIDS, in its latest campaign held at street cafes
along Jl. Tirtayasa in South Jakarta last Friday.

Smiling and giggling teenagers greeted volunteers, who not
only distributed brochures and leaflets on HIV/AIDS but also
carried condoms, hidden in their pockets.

"What does a condom look like?" whispered young Mira, who was
sitting with her girlfriends, to a volunteer. She was blushing
and her friends were laughing at her.

The volunteer did not directly answer her request but instead
questioned the teenagers about what they knew about Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV), and where they got their information about HIV/AIDS.

"I only show condoms to grown-ups," said Ipur, a volunteer,
after finishing the session.

The campaign was clearly being cautious, given the controversy
here over the promotion of condoms in campaigns to prevent HIV
and AIDS.

Some of the people receptive to the campaign raised serious
questions.

"Can I get HIV if I have my tooth drilled? I'm afraid the
dentist does not sterilize the drill after using it on another
patient," said Anik, a 21-year-old woman.

"I know that people can be infected by HIV through blood, and
sometimes when the dentist drills my tooth, it's bleeding," she
added. "And how do I know that the dentist has really sterilized
the drill?"

"And is it true that one can get HIV from mosquitoes bites?"
she also asked.

The foundation's doctor, Bambang Sutrisno, who was present
during the campaign, said that, for their own safety, every
patient has the right to question their doctor.

"If you have any doubts, just ask. It's your right. I believe
that all doctors will tell the truth because they have ethical
codes," he said.

"And one cannot get HIV through mosquito bites," Bambang
added.

Another cafegoer bluntly said that "HIV is like a death
sentence" when asked what he knew about the virus which could
lead to AIDS.

The man, who said he learned about HIV mostly from television
and magazines, then eagerly asked a volunteer how a person can be
infected by HIV.

Bambang explained one could be infected through sexual
intercourse, unsterilized needles and blood transfusions. An
infant could get it from its mother if she had the virus.

"The aim of our campaign is to raise people's awareness on the
dangers of HIV/AIDS. Many people, even those who have a higher
education level, are still unaware on the need to prevent
HIV/AIDS," he said.

Despite the foundation's good intentions, not all the
cafegoers welcomed the campaign.

"The campaign is good, but don't you think it is too serious
to burdens us?" said a woman who came with her children.

"We come here to relax, not to think seriously ... I haven't
even ordered food yet," she added.

Cafe Godean's owner, Wati, welcomed the foundation's campaign
in her cafe, which is mostly visited by teenagers.

"The campaign is a good initiative, I don't mind having them
in my cafe because it's important to make people aware and be
careful of HIV/AIDS," said Wati, a mother of three.

The foundation's program manager, Hussein Habsyi, said the
campaign was conducted in street cafes because they were visited
frequently by teenagers and those under 30.

"They are our main target because 50 percent of those infected
by HIV are under 29 years old," he said.

According to the Ministry of Health, there was a total of 702
cases of HIV/AIDS up to June, with 509 being HIV positive and 193
with AIDS.

Out of 702, 369 were under 29 years old, including three
children under one.

It is believed, however, that the real numbers are much higher
than the official figures.

"Another aim of the campaign is to make people willing to
accept others who are HIV positive or have AIDS in their
neighborhood instead of rejecting them," Hussein said.

Attractive

The campaign, Music on AIDS Awareness on the Streets, was
conducted in cooperation with Ikapari Country Music and Bahana FM
radio.

To attract youngsters, the foundation used music, as it has
several times in the past.

"While the cafegoers are enjoying the music, four volunteers
will mingle for about 10 minutes to directly disseminate
information on HIV and AIDS," Hussein said.

Many of the cafe owners have responded positively. "Some have
even asked us to do it frequently," he said.

The campaign, the fifth conducted by the foundation this year,
was greeted with varying degrees of acceptance.

Hussein said the least welcomed one was on Valentine's Day,
where the campaign was seen to spoil most couples intent on
enjoying a romantic evening.

In last week's campaign, eight volunteers asked cafegoers to
fill in evaluation forms, in which people could list all they
wanted to know about HIV/AIDS.

Most asked about how one could be infected by HIV, the number
of AIDS cases, which city had the most cases, people vulnerable
to HIV, drugs to cure HIV and preventive measures, including
condoms.

The volunteers found that 60 percent of the people were
enthusiastic about the campaigns, 20 percent were indifferent and
20 percent politely rejected the campaign.

"University students are more responsive. They raise more
serious questions ... unlike high school students who tend to
joke," Hussein said.

But the evaluation revealed that most of the cafegoers still
lack information about HIV/AIDS.

For instance, 90 percent of the cafegoers said that one could
get AIDS through mosquitoes bites and 15 percent said that one
could be infected by HIV/AIDS through food and drinks.

"The campaign was effective in disseminating information on
HIV and AIDS," Hussein said.

Activist, and campaign volunteer, Baby Jim Aditya said that
more programs should be conducted soon.

"These days, we're facing an economic crisis where people
think more about staple foods. But it doesn't mean they can
forget the dangers of HIV and AIDS."