JP/6/DAVID

JP/6/DAVID

Drug addicts, criminals, prostitutes, the "hidden force" infected
and spreading HIV/AIDS AND HEPATITIS C

David Gordon
and Joyce Djaelani Gordon
Directors
Harapan Permata Hati
Kita Foundation
Ciawi, Bogor

Recently there have been several reports about the increasing
numbers of individuals that have tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
These individuals are from ultra high risk groups that include
drug addicts, prostitutes, and criminals, especially those in
prisons. These reports from Greater Jakarta, Java, and Bali the
figures of HIV/AIDS at 25 percent injecting-drug users,
prostitutes, 3.65 percent prostitutes and 20 percent criminals in
prisons.

Reports on the increase of HIV/AIDS filter in from Sabang to
Merauke, from Sumatra to Pontianak, from Batam to Bali, from
Yogyakarta to Surabaya -- yet regardless of what most people now
hear, and are beginning to see in their own communities and
families the reality of the crisis of HIV and AIDS -- Hepatitis C
-- suffers to be fully realized.

One group of our citizens shouts about the HIV/AIDS epidemic
raging uncontrolled across our nation, while another group denies
the HIV/AIDS epidemic is real. Yet another group insists that
speaking about such "things" causes more of these "things" to
happen, another group believes "these things" are Gods Will and
that the "pure" will not be afflicted with these tragedies.

And another group is just arrogant about all of this by their
own naivety, and/or stupidity. Another, large, group has no idea
that any of this is happening at all.

Drug addicts, prostitutes, and criminals (all containing males
and females) now make up a sizable quantity of our population,
extending into the scores of millions. Each of these "ultra-high-
risk groups" now contain many individuals already infected with
the HIV/AIDS and/or Hepatitis C viruses.

These are not people who form entirely separate groups; they
always overlap. Meaning, often addicts are, or become
prostitutes. Addicts will often prostitute themselves to obtain
money for drugs, or do sexual favors to obtain drugs. Addicts are
most always very sexually active in the early years of their
addiction. Addicts are often known to use prostitutes. Addicts
are often involved in criminal activities.

Most of the Indonesian population, and many of our leaders
still deny the problem regarding HIV and AIDS (and Hepatitis C)
is as large (and lethal) as exclaimed. Police and prison
officials deny regularly, the amount of HIV and AIDS existing
within the "criminal community, and especially within the jail
and prison populations".

The Indonesian Military denies the amount of HIV and AIDS
existent in the military. Most every drug detoxification,
recovery and rehabilitation center, and their owners and
management are still in blatant denial about testing addicts that
enter their centers or programs for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C.

And, even if the center does test, and finds the addict
positive with a virus, the addict and their parents or guardian
are not told the truth or extent of the problem, or given the
proper information regarding the long term debilitating, and
deadly effects of HIV/AIDS, and Hepatitis C.

Indonesia, so far, has been unable to mount any kind of
effectual front against drug trafficking, abuse and addiction,
prostitution and the sex industry, or criminal reform strategies,
or rehabilitation initiatives and programs within the prison
system, let alone confront these as an issue of combined
effectuation.

These individuals are extremely difficult (almost impossible)
to reach as a group, to get to know, and even more difficult to
communicate with if you do not speak their language, bahasa
junkie, bahasa prostitute, and bahasa criminal. And there are
some successful programs and methods of reform, rehabilitation,
and recovery available that do speak these languages.

Programs of harm reduction, the 12-step program of Narcotics
Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and programs for prostitutes,
criminals and gang members, community-based outreach and peer
training pograms, and some religious and spiritually-based
programs, have all been effective in reaching into these shadowed
communities.

As individuals we are never the less confronted with pandemics
of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, and groups that are reckless by
their nature of being. These are, often, people caught in a grip
of something they cannot fully explain themselves, and cannot
find escape from.

We must focus direct attention on these groups, yet realize
decisive help must come from the inside of these groups, in the
form of peer leaders, outreach workers, community volunteers and
counselors.