Number of AIDS cases rises in Kalimantan

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Ninety-five people were infected with HIV/AIDS in East Kalimantan province last year, with two of these people dying, a government official said on Saturday.

"The figure is alarming. The number of people infected with the disease last year was much higher than the number of people infected a year earlier," said Nusyirwan Ismail, an official in the Development and Welfare Office of the East Kalimantan provincial government.

He said that in 2002, 38 people were infected with HIV/AIDS. The number of fatalities in 2002 is not known.

He raised concern that the number of infections could continue to rise in 2004.

He said on Saturday that most of those infected were IV drug users and people who had unprotected sex with prostitutes.

Sugiyanto, an official in the provincial health office, said his office would intensify its HIV/AIDS prevention campaign, including promoting the use of condoms. -- JP