Fight against AIDS epidemic requires combined approach

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)