AIDS spread in Papua blamed on poverty

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite an extensive campaign against HIV/AIDS in Papua, the number of local people living with the deadly virus continues to increase, making the province one of the regions worst affected by the disease.

Lack of education and widespread poverty were largely blamed for the sharp increase in HIV/AIDS cases in the troubled province, which has faced decades of a separatist movement.

Data from the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) reveals that 406 new HIV/AIDS cases had been discovered in Papua over the past few years.

According to the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), there are between 14,000 and 15,000 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the province.

The number of PLWHA throughout the country is estimated at between 80,000 and 130,000. Jakarta is reportedly the worst- affected province.

A survey conducted by Unicef in 2003 and 2004 revealed on Tuesday that most junior high students in Papua aged between 13 years and 15 years remain uninformed about HIV/AIDS.

The report went on to say that 12 percent of Papuan youths aged between 15 and 24 years have engaged in sex, it said.

More than 60 percent of the youths did not practice safe-sex, meaning they did not use condoms, the survey added.

"The survey proves that knowledge about HIV/AIDS is still low, particularly among Papuan youth -- the group most at risk. There is a significant degree of ignorance in Papua and we must overcome it," Unicef representative in Indonesia Steven Allen said on Tuesday.

The importance of education in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Papua has also been recognized by the Netherlands.

The Dutch government signed on Tuesday an agreement with Unicef to support Indonesia's measures to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in five regencies in Papua: Biak, Manokwari, Jayapura, Jayawijaya and Sorong.

Under the agreement, the Dutch government has granted US$1.6 million for the joint cooperation program of the Indonesian government and Unicef to fight HIV/AIDS in Papua.

The funds will be used to educate Papuan youths on HIV/AIDS prevention through junior secondary schools. School dropouts will receive similar training from community peer educators.

Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Ruud Treffers said his government was granting the funds because Papua was a province greatly affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We also chose Papua because it is located in the eastern part of the country, which is in line with our country's focus on fighting poverty and supporting basic education," he added.

On behalf of the Indonesian government, Ministry of National Education official Fasli Djalal expressed gratitude for the assistance.

He said the grant would be used to strengthen the campaign against HIV/AIDS in Papua by providing youths with information on the virus, and training teachers on the importance of educating students about its danger.