Ministry holds free HIV/STD tests

Ministry holds free HIV/STD tests

YOGYAKARTA: In commemoration of Sunday's National Health Day,
the Ministry of Health will conduct free Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) examinations
for pregnant women.

An official, Bambang Purnomo, said on Friday that his office
would also administer free medical treatment to pregnant women
and also prostitutes in the Pasar Kembang and Gedong Tengen
areas.

"Treatment will be given in the Gedong Tengen health center as
there are some 400 prostitutes here who are suspected to be
infected with HIV and STDs," he said. The examinations will be
held on Thursday.

Based on recent office research, some 12 percent of local
prostitutes are infected with STDs, he said.

"We don't want the commemoration of National Health Day to be
like in previous years where it is just an anniversary
celebration for the ministry and doesn't involve society,"
Bambang told Antara. (hdn)