Five die of AIDS in Irian

Five die of AIDS in Irian

MULIA, Irian Jaya: Five people with full-blown AIDS died in Puncak Jaya regency between March and April this year, regent Elieser Renmaur said.

The fatalities have added credence to the fear that HIV/AIDS infections are widespread in Irian Jaya.

Elieser said that all the victims caught HIV/AIDS in Wamena, the capital city of Jayawijaya regency.

He promised to step up information campaign on HIV/AIDS in cooperation with non-governmental organizations, Antara reported.

The official figures released by the provincial health office show that Irian Jaya now has 540 cases of HIV/AIDS, after the first was reported in 1992.