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)