An epidemic by neglect?

It seems all the world's epidemics are descending on us here in Indonesia, but the warning of HIV/AIDS becoming an epidemic here is not new at all. What the chief of the UN Program on HIV/AIDS was saying earlier this week was not that we already have this epidemic, but that all the signs are right here for the rapid spread of HIV and all its consequences.

The nagging feeling is that we have been told this before. That while we may think we cannot be as bad as Africa, where HIV/AIDS has brutally orphaned 12 million in sub-Saharan Africa and hence slashed its workforce, further crippling the economy -- we have been warned that we could be heading in the same direction, unless necessary measures are immediately taken.

UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot, who chose to participate in the commemoration of World AIDS Day in Indonesia -- "the frontline of an AIDS epidemic", mentioned the telling signs of that "frontline" -- such as high infection rates among injecting drug users, sex workers and their clients. But he also said that "the opportunities are enormous to really stop the epidemic, to nip it in the bud."

Last year, the actions needed were already reiterated in the "Sentani Commitment", when then chairman of the national HIV/AIDS committee, Jusuf Kalla, met with local leaders of provinces with relatively high infection rates. The commitment made was for basic measures, like promoting the use of condoms and reducing the stigma of people living with HIV/AIDS. These were highlighted again in the newly released Indonesian version of a UNAIDS' publication, Act Now.

But one key element that has yet to be followed up on at an adequate level is leadership. Piot acknowledged the commitment on the issue expressed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, but added that "all levels of society" needed to have that commitment.

We know for sure that a president stressing such a commitment does not translate, for instance, into men agreeing to use condoms when they engage in high-risk sex. A president's statement alone would have no affect on people's willingness to even define "high-risk sex" lest it reflects their own behavior or others around them.

Experts have warned about doing an oversimplified categorization of "high-risk groups" with the danger of overlooking people, or ourselves, with potentially high-risk behavior. People that should also be considered at risk, for example, are mobile businesspeople, or the bride who does not question her groom about "where he has been."

It is for this reason that the "enormous opportunities" mentioned by Piot need to engage "all levels of society" and their leaders, as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus does not discriminate against anyone based on profession, wealth or ethnicity. The awareness-raising campaign for HIV/AIDS held by the Foreign Banks Association on Wednesday, World AIDS Day, was one commendable effort that should be taken up by other business leaders involved with millions of professionals and "blue collar" workers.

Also, the role of religious leaders was stressed in a recent interview with this newspaper recently. UN Population Fund executive director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid spoke of the "moral responsibility" of religious leaders to speak out even against that very subject many would like to shun -- HIV/AIDS.

To practice religious teachings of mercy, compassion and understanding, she said leaders must speak out "at every opportunity, during Friday sermons ... everywhere."

"They have to speak about HIV/AIDS and how young people should be careful and protect themselves. What good would it serve you if you have mosques everywhere, but at the same time you let people with HIV/AIDS die?"

As mentioned by Kalla, we have long sensed the "consensus" between the government and religious leaders, and while the clerics might find it awkward to campaign for safe sex, at least they should not declare that the government's actions are wrong in efforts to curb the virus.

As things stand, we still see many mosques mushrooming around us, while all leaders -- whether in government, business or religion, and at community levels -- still need to facilitate the sharing of information on HIV/AIDS, or sit back and watch the nation face the deadly consequences of ignorance and silence.