Health clinic for prostitutes

Health clinic for prostitutes

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Alarmed by a recent health
official's report that six prostitutes in the province were
discovered to be HIV-positive, a brothel owner promised he would
soon build a health clinic for his 100 prostitutes.

Budiyanto, 48, said he also wished to hire two experts on
venereal diseases to work in the clinic. "I don't think
antibiotic shots, which my girls used to get regularly, would be
enough," he said.

Darmadi, another brothel owner, complained that most men who
frequented the red-light district are usually reluctant to use
condoms.

Two prostitutes said that they were horrified when they heard
about the six infected women. Besides, "We only visit the doctor
three times a year," one of the women said.

Dr. Fen Olof Manik revealed last week that six of the 500
prostitutes working in West Timor regency have been infected by
the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Official data shows that there are 35 brothels in the
province, with most prostitutes coming from East Java.

May's official statics say that 390 people are infected with
HIV and full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Of
the 95 AIDS victims recorded, 59 have died. The other 295 listed
are HIV-positive.

Jakarta has the most infected people with 137 HIV and AIDS
carriers. Irian Jaya is second, with 102. Bali and East Java each
have 33 and Riau has 29. (yac/swe)