City gets an AIDS clinic

City gets an AIDS clinic

JAKARTA (JP): A new AIDS (Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
clinic has opened in the city. It will provide the public with
all services related to the deadly disease.

The Awanama clinic was set up by the Pelita Ilmu foundation in
Tebet Timur Dalam, South Jakarta on Friday.

Nurwati, head of the clinic, said on Saturday that the clinic
was badly needed to help curb the increasing number of people
carrying HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), which causes AIDS.

There are 61 people that are HIV positive and 44 AIDS
sufferers in Jakarta, the latest record of the health ministry
shows.

She called on the public not to hesitate in consulting the
clinic about AIDS/HIV and having blood tests to make sure they
are not infected.

"We will withhold the names of our clients to avoid possible
humiliation," she said.

The clinic is offering free services for two months.

Besides the Pelita Ilmu foundation, Jakarta has other anti-
AIDS organizations such as the Indonesian AIDS foundation,
Pelopor Maju Mandiri foundation, the AIDS study group of Cipto
Mangunkusumo hospital, Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association,
Kusuma Buana foundation, Mitra Indonesia AIDS hot line and the
National Epidemiology Network. (29)