Australia helps RI fight AIDS

Australia helps RI fight AIDS

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Australian government has
earmarked Rp 153 billion (US$17 million) in grants to help
Indonesia combat AIDS in the provinces of Bali, South Sulawesi
and West Nusa Tenggara.

Deputy Minister of People's Welfare H. Farid Husein said on
Thursday that the financial assistance would be used in the fight
against AIDS between 2003 and 2007.

"It's the next phase after the first ran between 1998 and
2002," he said.

The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia is
estimated at 957, in which 325 people are in Papua, 308 in
Jakarta, 133 in East Java, 41 in West Java, 43 in Bali and 36 in
South Sulawesi.

The government has taken necessary measures to minimize the
epidemic and impact of HIV/AIDS, including disseminating
information to people and distributing drugs to people with
HIV/AIDS.--Antara