Govt rules out promoting condoms in anti-AIDS drive
Govt rules out promoting condoms in anti-AIDS drive
JAKARTA (JP): The government has ruled out promoting the use of condoms in its anti-AIDS campaign, despite strong evidence of their effectiveness in preventing the spread of the disease.
"Let me make it very clear to you, there is no condom-ization in Indonesia," Minister of Health Sujudi said in keynote address to a debate on the effectiveness of condoms in preventing the spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on Saturday.
Sujudi recognized the effectiveness of condoms and said that married couples should use them if one of the partners have been infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). People who fall into the "high risk" category should also use condoms, he said.
But there will be no massive scale campaign for condom use, he added.
The condom debate was organized by the Indonesian Medical Association in connection with the World AIDS Day, which fell on Friday, Dec. 1.
Held at University of Indonesia's School of Medicine, it featured five speakers: former health minister Dr. Adhyatma; legislator Dr. Nafsiah Mboy; Dr. Sjamsurizal Djauzi, a physician who has a lot of experience with AIDS cases; Dr. Djubairi Djoerban from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital and psychiatrist Dadang Hawari.
Indonesian Medical Association chairman Dr. Azrul Azwar moderated the debate. Moslem scholar Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, was also billed in the debate but he failed to show up.
The government has refused to consent to any anti-AIDS campaign that promotes the use of condoms, chiefly because of strong objections from Moslem leaders who view such campaigns as encouraging adultery and prostitution.
Various non-governmental organizations have taken the initiative to promote the use of condoms as part of their anti- AIDS drive. Some took their campaigns to red-light districts, distributing condoms for free.
Most speakers, and some participants at the debate, agreed that there was strong evidence that condoms are effective in containing the spread of AIDS, although they admitted that it is only one of several alternatives.
Zubaedah Mochtar, a senior official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs who participated in the lively debate, said there is no regulation or law banning condom campaigns.
"Religions do not object the use of condoms. They object to extramarital sex," Zubaedah said.
Djubairi refuted suggestions that condoms are ineffective in preventing AIDS because they have pores. He pointed out that since condoms had been effective in preventing venereal diseases, they should have the same effectiveness in preventing the spread of HIV.
Speakers suspected that many condoms had been ineffective because they were defective, which does not mean their use should be discouraged.
Nafsiah Mboy said condoms are only "devices" to fight against AIDS.
The most important thing is people's behavior. "The person most responsible for the use of condoms are men, that is why they have to be responsible and practice safe sex," she said.
In another discussion yesterday, this time attended by around 200 teenagers, anti-AIDS campaigner Nona Poeroe Utomo said AIDS can develop faster in Indonesia than in other countries.
The HIV infection rate in Indonesia is higher than that in some developed countries, she told the discussion held by the Indonesian AIDS Foundation.
Another speaker in the discussion, psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono, advocated preventive measures against AIDS, including the use of condoms.
He claimed that there was not any HIV infection in the Netherlands because "people care enough to use condoms". (31/imn)