Dial 163 for info and consultation on AIDS

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Jakarta and surrounding townships can now learn about the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) by dialing 163.

The AIDS/HIV Information and Consultancy Service, which is currently only available for people in the vicinity of Jakarta, is being provided by courtesy of the National Family Planning Board and PT Telkom, the state-owned telephone company.

Besides providing information on the dreaded disease, which is currently spreading rapidly in Indonesia, the service also allows for private consultation.

Experts are posted between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day to answer queries.

The information service is open 24 hours a day and provides a pre-recorded message with general information about the syndrome and the virus, how it is transmitted, what preventive action should be taken, how one should respond if one detected some of the symptoms and how one should react if a member of the family is infected.

National Family Planning Board Chairman Haryono Suyono announced the introduction of the service after meeting with Vice President Try Sutrisno yesterday. The board is involved in the current government campaign to contain the spread of AIDS in Indonesia. (emb)