JP/5/CHURCH

JP/5/CHURCH

Papuan churches on front line of HIV/AIDS fight

Antara/Manado

Papuan churches have joined forces to battle the spread of
HIV/AIDS in the region, a church leader said in Manado, North
Sulawesi.

Rev. Domianus, who was attending a church function in Manado,
said churches in Papua had started the Oikumene Movement to fight
the spread of the virus.

As part of the movement, the churches hold retreats and Masses
for young people, to warn them of the dangers of unprotected sex
and sharing needles.

The churches also teach young Papuans not to discriminate
against or ostracize people living with HIV/AIDS.

The movement is exposing young people to the knowledge they
require to avoid HIV/AIDS, while also teaching them that it is
safe to embrace, literally and figuratively, people living with
the virus.

HIV/AIDS has spread through Papua at an alarming rate since
first being detected in the province 11 years ago. The Papuan
Health Office estimates that more than 60,000 people across the
province are at risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.

The virus first appeared in Papua in Merauke, allegedly
transmitted to sex workers by Thai fishermen. It has since spread
to the remotest areas of the province.

An at-risk population of over 60,000 is significant in a
province with a population of 2,516,310 people, consisting of
1,322,890 men and 1,193,420 women.

The health office estimates there are currently 11,042 people
in the province living with HIV/AIDS.

That estimate is much higher than the 1,910 HIV/AIDS cases
officially reported to the office. The main cause of HIV/AIDS
transmission in Papua is through sexual intercourse.

Most of those infected with HIV/AIDS in Papua are in their
productive years, between the ages of 15 and 39.