Jakartans living with HIV/AIDS up by 34%: Agency

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The number of people in Jakarta living with HIV/AIDS rose 34 percent in 2005, according to a report released on Monday by the Jakarta Narcotic Agency (BNP).

BNP Jakarta chairman Fauzi Bowo said the number of reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the capital soared to 3,373 during 2005, from a total of 2,505 reported cases at the end of last year.

"It is saddening to know that more than half of those people living with HIV/AIDS are still in their productive years, between the ages of 20 and 29," said Fauzi, who is also Jakarta's deputy governor.

"We hope this alarming figure will serve as a wake-up call for all of us before we lose an entire generation ...," he said.

Fauzi said 60 percent of the people in Jakarta living with HIV/AIDS were active injecting drug users (IDUs).

There are an estimated 10,000 IDUs in the capital, and they are at a higher risk of contracting HIV because of the practice of sharing needles.

A recent report by Pelita Ilmu Foundation estimated that as of Sept. 30 there were 15,000 people in Jakarta living with HIV/AIDS, with 1,873 of these people having AIDS.

"Every person in the community has no other choice but to take an active role in preventing the virus from spreading .... The Jakarta administration will always help finance HIV/AIDS preventive measures ...," Fauzi said.

As part of the campaign against the spread of HIV/AIDS, the administration has selected 10 of 44 districts in the capital to receive more funds for antidrug programs.

The programs will be chaired by district heads, with district police chiefs serving as their deputies.

"We hope that through a community-based approach, we will be able to draw up more precise plans to contain drug-related problems in the community," the deputy governor said.

BNP, along with the Jakarta Police, has identified several areas in the city where drug dealers and users are most active.

Among these areas are Duripulo subdistrict, across from the Roxy electronics center in West Jakarta, and Kampung Ambon subdistrict in Cengkareng district, also in West Jakarta.

Other identified areas are Warakas in North Jakarta, Galur in Senen, Central Jakarta, Kebon Kacang in Central Jakarta and Kampung Bali in Tanah Abang district, also in Central Jakarta.

The severity of the drug trade in these areas is judged according to the level of involvement of residents, who are mostly poor.