Improved information needed to fight AIDS
Improved information needed to fight AIDS
JAKARTA (JP): A doctor has called for improved information
about AIDS to the public in the face of indifference,
discrimination, prejudice and insult experienced by people
infected with the virus.
Hudoyo Hupudio of the Mitra Indonesia Foundation said at a
seminar Saturday that a variety of medications and holistic care
have been developed to ease the sufferers' pain, a move that
dispels the 1980's notion of AIDS as a deadly, incurable disease.
It is believed that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
leads to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The
virus is commonly transmitted through sexual intercourse, blood
transfusion and from the mother to child during pregnancy and
delivery.
He said that AIDS can incubate for ten years in developed
countries but can incubate more rapidly in developing countries
as treatment for diseases with a short window period are poor.
Hudoyo said logistics and patient testing are major obstacles
in the prevention of AIDS, adding that treatment must be non-
discriminatory and confidential.
"The patients' identities are often made public in every
province and rights to confidentiality are often breached by
health care workers," he said.
The information is often disclosed to the media, a move that
often makes AIDS sufferers feel stigmatized, he said.
Improving public awareness and a greater dedication by non-
governmental organizations are necessary to combat AIDS, Hudoyo
said.
He added the government should support activities to combat
AIDS by the implementation of policies, financing and changing
people's attitudes.
Another expert, Zubairi Djoerban, said that a combined
approach is necessary to ease the suffering of AIDS patients. He
said AIDS patients need understanding and emotional support --
not pity -- from their spouses, friends, families, the media,
religious figures, officials and health care workers.
Zubairi said extensive discussions with community leaders and
residents are needed to authorize home care for AIDS patients.
He recalled treating a 39-year-old patient in the later stages
of AIDS and providing information to health care workers, the
sanitation unit and the patient's family on his condition.
The patient, diagnosed with AIDS, was also suffering from
tuberculosis, bronchopneumonia and cardidiasis. He was treated
with anti-tuberculosis and antifungal medicine, AZT and
antibiotics, Zubairi said.
He added that people can discriminate against someone who is
HIV positive but act differently when the person's HIV status is
unknown.
Non-governmental organization Pelita Ilmu Foundation, quoting
the latest official figures, said the total number of people in
Indonesia infected with HIV/AIDS was 524 as of March 1997.
The foundation said the latest seven HIV/AIDS cases were
reported to have occurred in Jakarta, Bali and North Sumatra.
Out of the 524, the foundation said 397 persons have HIV
while the remaining 127 people have full-blown AIDS and 74 of
them have died.
The foundation said the carriers included 348 men, 154 women
and 22 cases were not reported.
According to Pelita Ilmu, 343 persons were infected with
HIV/AIDS through heterosexual contact, 87 through homosexual and
bisexual contact, six shared needles, two from blood
transfusions, two from hemophilia, two from prenatal transfusion
and 82 cases were unknown.
The foundation said 348 Indonesian citizens were infected with
HIV/AIDS, 157 foreigners and 19 persons whose citizenships were
not known.
Two babies have contracted AIDS, while 26 persons aged between
15 and 19 were infected, 244 between 20 and 29, 141 between 30
and 39, 44 between 40 and 49, 11 between 50 and 59, three from 60
and above and the remaining 53 cases were unknown, according to
Pelita. (01)