Jakarta gets new AIDS hotline

Jakarta gets new AIDS hotline

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister of People Welfare Azwar
Anas yesterday inaugurated an AIDS hotline at the Jakarta Islamic
Hospital in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, in commemoration of
World AIDS Day.

The AIDS hotline provides information on HIV/AIDS (Human
Immuno Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) to
the public as part of the program to curb the spread of the
deadly disease.

Project Manager Atikah M. Zaki said the AIDS hotline at the
Jakarta Islamic hospital will be open daily from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
It will provide the service on 4250552 and Internet, she added.

The Jakarta Islamic hospital offers blood tests for HIV/AIDS,
she said.

"Patients must bring a medical reference," she said, adding
that the cost of the blood test is only Rp 15,000.

Several anti-AIDS organizations have opened AIDS hotlines,
including the Pelita Ilmu, the Kusuma Buana foundation and the
Epoch Information Center.

Azwar said in his speech that World AIDS Day should be used to
increase public concern about HIV/AIDS, as a vaccine or effective
medication has not yet been found.

The prevention of HIV/AIDS should become a priority for all
nations since the disease is spreading fast, he said. There will
be 30-40 million HIV/AIDS sufferers in the world by the turn of
the millennium, he added.

Seminar

In a related development, the West Jakarta mayoralty
commemorated the World AIDS Day by holding a seminar on HIV/AIDS.
The seminar, taking place at the CitraLand hotel, was jointly
organized by the mayoralty, Trisakti University and the Lions
Club.

Some 250 people, including students, ulemas, activists,
attended the seminar.

AIDS poster exhibition, free consultation and publication of
leaflet and sticker on AIDS are part of the anti-AIDS campaign in
West Jakarta.

Mayor Sutardjianto demanded that people be more alert on the
spread of HIV/AIDS since the city have the highest number of
HIV/AIDS patients.

The latest data of the Ministry of Health indicate that 118
people in the city are infected by HIV/AIDS. Irian Jaya has 96
and Bali has 33 people infected by HIV/AIDS. (29)