Celebrities participate in anti-AIDS discussion

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)