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)