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.