An epidemic by neglect?

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.