Government to boost campaign on HIV/AIDS

Government to boost campaign on HIV/AIDS

JAKARTA (JP): The government will intensify its campaign to
prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, which saw a significant number of
cases in June.

Data from the Ministry of Health show that in June alone an
increase of 118 cases of HIV and 76 cases of full blown AIDS were
reported.

Director General of Communicable Diseases at the ministry,
Umar Fachmi Achmadi, said official figures now show that there
are a total of 1,572 patients infected with the Human Immuno-
deficiency Virus (HIV) and 578 cases of Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the country.

He said that while the largest number of those infected still
acquired the virus through sexual contact, the number has seen a
steady increase since 1998 from drug users who share unsterile
syringes.

Umar also pointed out that the social and economic crises that
has hit the country in recent years has seen many turning to the
sex industry and the drug trade to seek an income.

"The government will stick to its efforts to prevent the
spread, such as through campaigning the use of condoms. The
current campaign faces hindrances as we cannot force people to
use condoms."

"But, I think intensifying the use of condoms and distributing
sterile syringes for drugs users such as in European and American
countries will be effective to curb the spread," he told The
Jakarta Post on Friday.

Official data has recorded the number of HIV/AIDS patients in
23 provinces. There have been no reports submitted by Bengkulu,
Central Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.

He said the new cases reported in June are largely from Irian
Jaya where 94 new HIV infections and 67 AIDS cases were reported.

Overall, the highest number of AIDS cases reported is in
Jakarta with 299 cases, followed by Irian Jaya with 210 cases,
West Java with 37 cases, while Bali, East Java and Riau with 26,
22 and 14 cases respectively.

"We have learned that the virus spreads fastest in Irian Jaya
through sexual intercourse. We are thinking of encouraging the
issuance of a bylaw imposing the use of condoms in the province.
So the use of condoms will become mandatory there," Umar said.

Despite the official number given, many activists have pointed
out that it could merely be the tip of the iceberg given the
large population of the country and the lack of awareness and
control of the spread of the virus.

So far no known drug has been found to wholly cure HIV/AIDS
associated illnesses. Certain drugs help to alleviate the pain
and inhibit the spread of the virus within the body.

Such therapy is estimated to cost Rp 90 million (US$7,800) per
year.

The United Nations last month devoted a three-day General
Assembly session in New York to seek a higher commitment to
combat the global threat posed by the virus.

"In a round table discussion during the special session,
pharmaceutical companies indirectly stated that they will lower
the price of drugs needed in the therapy by 90 percent for
developing countries," Umar revealed. (bby)