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.