Celebrities participate in anti-AIDS discussion
JAKARTA (JP): An AIDS talk Saturday, which involved musicians and other artists, ended with a noisy game of who dared to take tests for HIV and who didn't.
"I would take the test," Titi Qadarsih, a senior entertainer, former model and current fitness instructor said.
"I would bear the consequences... and spread the word that carefree, pleasant sex is not pleasant at all because it is dangerous."
"I could not do it," a painter said. "There is no cure for AIDS and I would lose all my spirit to do anything if I tested positive."
The responses were part of a discussion at the end of a talk held by the Pelita Ilmu Foundation and the Ikapari country musicians' group.
Some 25 artists were active from morning to late afternoon at the talk held at Pete's Tavern at Menara Thamrin, Central Jakarta.
Anto W. Soemartono, who coordinates the musicians' group, said the artists were enthusiastic because the talk was held at their own initiative.
They wanted to know more about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and what they could do about it.
The issue whether education, with moral and ethical aspects, could prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS drew a heated debate, while some questions and comments were more practical.
One participant noted that artists are relatively more concerned, compared to the business community, regarding safe sex.
In business relations, "many would rather accept girls than money" for bribes, he said.
Titi said that though artists are concerned, the AIDS issue is still "frightening" and not openly discussed.
Titi said she has plans to meet more fellow artists, to spread awareness of HIV/AIDS "in any way they can", to make the issue less depressive.
Her personal, simple way to attract attention to the issue, she said, is to walk into fast food restaurants, for instance, and have a friend take a picture of her with a sign stating "I care about AIDS".
"Then people get curious and I hand out the signs which carry the phone numbers of sources like Pelita Ilmu, where they can get more information," Titi said.
More intensive campaigning is needed, she said, citing her experience with housewives who join her classes. Even if the women are told that they could get the virus from husbands who look healthy, the women feel safe by "keeping clean and taking showers twice a day".
Wellin, a singer, said artists also need practical information on how to persuade friends to take tests.
Noorwati, a source person from Pelita Ilmu presented five cases of people with AIDS, of which only one is still alive.
She described the stress and fear of becoming severely ill and of dying alone among the people who have AIDS.
Noted doctor and advocate on AIDS, Samsuridjal Djauzi, urged the increased-role of artists to campaign for awareness of the issue.
"We hope artists can come up with creative ways that can reach the public" not only on how the virus is spread, but also on fostering awareness that people with AIDS are not to be isolated, Samsuridjal said. (anr)