AIDS Memorial Night observed

AIDS Memorial Night observed

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

More than 100 people attended AIDS Memorial Night on Tuesday,
organized by the Care for AIDS Forum of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in Greater Jakarta.

The event, which was held in Bulungan Youth Sports Hall, Blok
M, South Jakarta, was attended by city administration officials,
AIDS activists, students, and people living with HIV/AIDS.

The memorial night aimed at increasing awareness of Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome (AIDS), especially the realities of living with the
condition, Beby Amaliah, spokeswoman for the forum, said at a
media conference on Tuesday.

She said the forum hoped people would realize the real dangers
of AIDS and appreciate the problems faced by people with AIDS.

Another major issue is that antiretro viral (ARV) drugs, which
reduce the effects of the virus and enable people to live
relatively normal lives, are not readily available to people with
HIV/AIDS, she said.

Tato, an HIV-positive man attending the event, said he hoped
the event would help officials see that AIDS affected real
people, instead of just considering them as mere figures and
numbers when faced with AIDS statistics.

"The officials can see that although I have contracted AIDS, I
can still have a job and perform well, like any other man," said
Tato, who works at an international institution.

He said that antiretro viral drugs made it possible for him to
engage in such activities.

"I do hope officials come to realize that people with
HIV/AIDS, who are mostly poor, need to be subsidized to make it
possible for them to obtain the drugs, which would cost about Rp
500,000 (approximately US$59.38) a month per person," he said.

Tuesday's memorial night, which was themed "Remembering the
Cause, Renewing Commitment", was held in cooperation with the
Joint United Nations Program for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), anti-AIDS
institutions Family Health International (FHI) and Stop AIDS
Action (ASA).

Also involved were the Jakarta branch of the National HIV/AIDS
Commission (KPAD) and the forum, grouping 48 NGOs.

According to a report from the health ministry and FHI-ASA, in
2002, there were 23,847 HIV/AIDS cases in Jakarta, Dedi Wibawa,
chairman of the forum, said.

"Statistics show that Jakarta has the most cases of HIV/AIDS
in Indonesia, and it is estimated that the number will double to
48,770 cases this year," he said.

Therefore, cooperation from all parties, especially the city
administration and society, is needed to prevent the spread of
the condition, he said.