Sat, 21 Aug 2004

HIV/AIDS spreading fast in Batam city

BATAM: The spread of HIV/AIDS in Batam has reached an alarming level, an official said on Friday.

Marwan Nusri, the head of Batam General Hospital, disclosed that last year, the number of people with HIV/AIDS treated at the hospital was only five from January to July. But, in the same period this year, 11 people with HIV/AIDS were treated at the hospital.

Marwan said that unprotected sex was the main cause of transmission. -- JP