Fight against AIDS epidemic requires combined approach

JAKARTA (JP): Anti-AIDS campaigns in predominately Moslem Indonesia should use an approach which combines religious and behavioral factors as well as a limited use of condoms in high- risk areas, an expert says.

Gerard O'Brien, a training specialist in the Indonesia HIV/AIDS Prevention Project at AusAid, said in a seminar on Tuesday that the combined approach could be applied in schools, among military personnel, low-income workers in labor-intensive jobs, as well as young professionals and prostitutes.

He said the role of high-level government decision-makers is a key to implementing this type of program successfully. However, in order to be effective, the fight against the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus also needs the strong support of the medical profession, religious leaders and traditional healers.

In addition, an effective media campaign should also be targeted at the country's young people and lower-income groups, he said.

The seminar discussed the latest developments and strategies to further reduce the spread of the virus among Indonesia's young people and lower-income groups. It featured experts from the medical community, government and non-governmental organizations.

Zubairi Djurban said Indonesia has been implementing a "new strategy", one which combines a number of medical treatments that had previously been used separately, and spiritual and religious counseling.

Zubairi said information and education are also important to prevent further spread of the virus among people of lower socioeconomic classes.

He also said treatment is costly, ranging from Rp 1 million (US$421) per patient to Rp 14.5 million (US$6,110) for only the topical eye medication in the later stages of the disease.

Treatment reduces, but does not eliminate, the spread of the virus, he pointed out.

Addressing the social issues of the disease was Esty Susanti Hudiono, the director of Surya AIDS hotline in Surabaya, who said sex education was the most important issue in the campaign for rural women and young people.

A recent report said the disease has affected 466 people in Indonesia, but experts estimate that the actual number could reach hundreds of thousands. (01)