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)