Annan advocates open talks to slow the spread of AIDS

JAKARTA (JP): AIDS is still incurable, but the spread of HIV can be slowed by talking openly about AIDS and sexual behavior, according to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

"Many countries, including a handful in the developing world, have slowed the spread of HIV by talking openly about AIDS and sexual behavior...," Annan said in a speech to mark the observance of World AIDS Day on Tuesday.

In dealing with the issue, he said, those countries also showed solidarity with those already infected and made information about prevention and support available to everyone.

Another thing which is important in the effort to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS is the involvement of young people, as about half of all HIV infections occur in people aged 15 to 24.

"Young people are a powerful influence for education and understanding in the family, their peer groups, their schools, their communities and their countries," Annan said.

He said that the most important message the UN could convey was that "we are not powerless against the epidemic".

"Experience tells us that prevention efforts are especially likely to pay off among young people, by teaching them to adopt safe behavior from the start," Kofi said.

"By the end of this month, the number of adults and children living with HIV will exceed 33 million, 10 percent more than a year ago."

AIDS, he said, had already taken 14 million lives. At least 95 percent of all infections and deaths occurred in the developing world, where the costly new medicines that can help prolong the lives are rarely available or affordable.

"So the truth is that AIDS is still an emerging epidemic -- one that is killing more people every year than malaria. Because the victims are mostly young adults, who would otherwise be raising families and supporting the economy, the repercussions are reaching crisis level."

In Indonesia, as of October this year, the government has registered 776 people with HIV/AIDS. Of these, 42 were aged between 15 and 19 and 368 were of between 20 and 29 years old.

Various campaigns have been conducted to slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS here.

The Ministry of Health's director general of the prevention of communicable diseases, Achmad Sujudi, has said that to mark World AIDS Day, President B.J. Habibie was scheduled to meet, shake hands and talk with people with HIV/AIDS.

On Nov. 29, Pelita Ilmu Foundation organized an information exhibition on HIV/AIDS, a poster contest and music concert at the Ancol Arts Market in North Jakarta.

Free public HIV tests are being offered for three months by the University of Indonesia's School of Medicine from Tuesday.

Apart from conducting the free tests, the school's study group held a one-day seminar on surgery on people with HIV/AIDS on Nov. 27. (ste)