Health Office: 203 HIV Cases Reported in Tangerang, Including Eight Toddlers

The Tangerang Regency Health Office (Dinkes) in Banten Province has recorded 203 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from January to April 2024, eight of which involve toddlers.

“Of these 203 cases, the highest numbers were found at the Curug, Kelapa Dua, Kosambi, and Cikupa community health centres (Puskesmas), though cases were also identified in other centres,” stated the Head of the Tangerang Regency Health Office, Hendra Tarmizi, in Tangerang on Tuesday.

Out of the 203 identified cases, 167 affect individuals of productive age, 28 involve adolescents, and eight involve toddlers. Hendra noted that the majority of these infectious disease cases are concentrated within the productive age bracket, specifically between 21 and 55 years old.

Research into the primary causes of HIV transmission among the productive age group and adolescents indicates that transmission is driven by needle sharing, unprotected sexual intercourse, and deviant sexual behaviour.

In response to these findings, health officials have urged the public to use protection and engage in sexual relations only with legally recognised partners to reduce HIV rates in Tangerang Regency. Furthermore, officials advised that those who are infected must adhere to regular medication schedules to prevent the virus from progressing to the AIDS stage.