Papua govt to release 'Madonna' on HIV/AIDS

Papua govt to release 'Madonna' on HIV/AIDS

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The Papua provincial government will soon distribute copies of a film on HIV/AIDS prevention to government offices and agencies throughout Papua, a senior government official says.

"The copies of the film, which is produced by the Papua provincial administration, will be distributed in the near future to 22 regional governments in Papua and related government agencies. They are expected to screen the film to the public," Papua deputy governor Constan Karma said recently.

The film, Madonna, directed by Garin Nugroho, tells a story of a prostitute who refuses to return to work after she knows that she has HIV, fearing that she will infect others.

The film, funded by the Papua provincial government, was completed recently.

Constan, who is also the head of Papua's HIV/AIDS Eradication Commission, said the film was the first of its kind to be used in the region. Earlier HIV/AIDS education efforts used radio and newspaper ads along with HIV/AIDS workshops in schools, village halls and churches.

Constan said Papua provincial government was committed to finding other creative ways to help combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua, which is believed to be the fastest in the country.

Government data shows people known to be infected with HIV in Papua reached 1,749 out of a total 2.1 million population in December but officials fear this figure is probably only the tip of the iceberg.

Six hundred and ninety six people are known to have developed full-blown AIDS and 232 people are known to have died of AIDS- related illnesses.