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.

The increase of HIV/AIDS sufferers from Sabang to Merauke, from Sumatra to Pontianak, from Batam to Bali, from Yogyakarta to Surabaya make people begin to see in their own communities and families the reality of the crisis of HIV and AIDS and Hepatitis C.

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.