AusAID and the Indonesian Government Cooperate on HIV/AIDS prevention
AusAID and the Indonesian Government Cooperate on HIV/AIDS prevention
The problem of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is no longer limited to certain
groups in society. The threat of this condition, which attacks
and breaks down the body's immune system, has spread worldwide,
and all nations are currently held accountable to help overcome
the problem.
One international cooperation that has been established is the
HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Prevention and
Elimination project, which is a bilateral project between the
Government of Indonesia and the Government of Australia.
This project, with more than AUS$20 million in funding, is
intended to assist the Indonesian Government in decreasing the
rate of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, in
Indonesia. As a pilot project, three provinces have been selected
to represent the Indonesian people's various cultures and
beliefs. They are: Bali, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and South
Sulawesi.
Assistance from the Government of Australia -- through its
formal aid institution, the Australian Agency for International
Development (AusAID) -- dates back 40 years. During that time,
the Australian Government has been involved in various projects
to help people in poverty and raise community living standards.
The Australian Government has extended more assistance to
Indonesia compared with other Southeast Asian countries. In the
period from 1989 through 1999, for example, the total assistance
will reach A$127 million, including A$50 million for humanitarian
relief due to a long drought and an economic crisis that has hit
Indonesia.
For the HIV/AIDS prevention project, the allocated fund is
A$19.6 million. It is a joint fund provided by the Australian
Government (A$17.6 million) and the Indonesian Government (A$2
million). This five-year project started in September 1995 and
will end in September 2000.
As a result of the economic crisis, the HIV/AIDS problem has
become more critical. More and more people are vulnerable to HIV
infection. As an illustration, there are currently 770 AIDS cases
recorded in Indonesia. However, the real figure (unrecorded)
might well reach up to 77,000, 100 times more than the official
number. This figure will increase rapidly if preventive actions
are not taken.
Fortunately, there is a serious commitment between government
and non-governmental organizations in Indonesia to work together
to eliminate the danger of HIV/AIDS.
AusAID has established the HIV/AIDS prevention project in
cooperation with the Office of the Coordinating Minister for
People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication. This cooperation is
extremely close and the project team office is located in the
office of the ministry.
The Australian Team Leader, Dr. David B. Elkins, explained
that the reason for the cooperation with the Coordinating
Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication was due to
the fact that the ministry is in charge of coordinating the
departments related to poverty-alleviation issues, including the
HIV/AIDS prevention issue.
The increase in poverty which people are suffering from this
year can have a direct impact on increasing the transmission of
HIV/AIDS. During the current economic crisis, the impact of AIDS
among low-income groups is especially devastating. Poorer
families have no margin to absorb the cost of health care, or the
loss of earnings. The cost of the HIV epidemic will fall most
heavily on the poor, further entrenching their poverty and
amplifying existing socioeconomic inequity.
"In order to strengthen this program, coordination with the
related ministries is urgently required. The National AIDS
Commission is also located in the ministry's office and they are
our key partner in HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs," Elkins
added.
The Office of the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
and Poverty Eradication is responsible for coordinating all
activities of all related departments. However, without support
from various sectors, it would not be possible to implement such
a project. As explained by Elkins, there are a number of sectors
that are involved in the bilateral project.
At the central level, support is provided by six related
departments: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social
Services, the National Family Planning Coordinating Agency, the
Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Education and Culture and
the Ministry of Manpower. In addition, at the regional level,
support is provided by local governments of the three provinces
selected for the pilot project.
AusAID is also cooperating with 42 non-governmental
organizations that are concerned with the HIV/AIDS issue. Non-
governmental organizations provide a vital link to individuals
and communities at risk from HIV/AIDS and STDs. Their active
participation in HIV/AIDS prevention has been a cornerstone to
successfully implementing the Indonesian National HIV/AIDS
Strategy.
Most of the activities conducted in this HIV/AIDS and STD
project support institutional strengthening of national and
provincial HIV/AIDS commissions and capacity building of non-
governmental agencies. Prevention activities focusing on
providing information, education and communication to the general
public as well as to high-risk groups is a vital component.
Although AIDS is a popular issue, there is still a great deal to
be done to ensure that people know the basic facts about HIV
transmission and, more importantly, assess their own personal
behavior and decide if they are at risk of infection.
Other activities of the project include prevention, social
research, blood testing, counseling and other STD treatment. "We
also build the capacity of the non-governmental organizations to
make them self-reliant in skills, technical knowledge, management
and fund raising," Elkins pointed out.
Based on a decree by the Office of the Coordinating Minister
for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication, three non-
governmental organization advisory groups have been established
in Bali, NTT and South Sulawesi. These advisory groups evaluate
the feasibility of proposals from participating non-governmental
organizations and also offer suggestions on the funding.
Through this process, the 42 non-governmental organizations
from the three provinces have conducted more than 100 activities
which directly relate to the national treatment and prevention
strategy for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
Activities conducted in the three provinces are expected to be
models for HIV/AIDS prevention programs in other regions in
Indonesia in the future.