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