Bogor a new hot spot for spreas of HIV/AIDS
Bogor a new hot spot for spreas of HIV/AIDS
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
As a melting pot of migrant workers, Bogor is one of many areas
in the country that are vulnerable to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Bambang Irianto, a volunteer at the Indonesian Committee for
Humanity (KKI), said on Wednesday that 500 people in Bogor alone
were infected by the as yet incurable virus.
Referring to a survey by the International Labor Organization
(ILO), he told a seminar on HIV/AIDS prevention that the infected
residents came from various walks of life.
"Some of them are sex workers, transvestites, prisoners and
even housewives. Most are migrants who live far from their
families. The ready availability of nightspots and prostitution
and money in their pockets have contributed to the spread of the
virus," he said.
The seminar, which was organized by the Indonesian Employers
Association (Apindo) and KKI, was aimed at preventing further
spread of the virus at workplaces that usually attract young
people, and eliminating discriminatory policies toward infected
people.
The seminar was opened by KKI chairman Mar'ie Muhammad, who is
also chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).
KKI executive director Abdul Aziz revealed that 65 percent of
Indonesians infected by the virus are at a productive age of 18
to 25. Ministry of Health data states that 2,077 of 4,143
HIV/AIDS cases reported as of June 2003 were people of a
productive age.
The chairman of the Bogor chapter of Apindo, Antoni Halim,
said that employers were being encouraged to distribute
information to their workers, "in the hope that we can minimize
the risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS, while anybody who has already
been infected won't suffer from discrimination."
A recent survey carried out by the ministry and non-
governmental organization Stop Aids Action/Family Health
International (ASA/FHI) said that some provinces had already
identified areas where the number of people living with HIV or
AIDS was up by 15 percent annually.
The provinces are Riau, including Batam island, Jakarta, West
Java, Papua and Bali.