HIV/AIDS campaign held for inmates

HIV/AIDS campaign held for inmates

BOGOR: The recent finding that 20 inmates of Paledang
Penitentiary in Bogor are HIV-positive prompted AIDS activists to
hold an HIV/AIDS campaign on Thursday for the 1,000-plus inmates.

The campaign was held by three organizations, Stop AIDS Action
(ASA), the Indonesian Humanitarian Committee and the Spiritia
Foundation.

Anton Dwi, who is serving a 17-year sentence, said he and
other inmates found the campaign to be useful, as they learned
much about HIV/AIDS, including how the virus is spread.

He said that the inmates had been restless and suspicious of
each other after they found out that some inmates had been
diagnosed as HIV-positive. They had also been afraid that they
could easily contract the virus from physical contact, especially
because many of them suffered from skin diseases and had to sleep
together in a stuffy cell.

Hertin Setyowati from Spiritia Foundation said that the
campaign was also aimed at supporting inmates with HIV. -- JP