Papuans educated on HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is a major problem in Papua, with over 60,000 people at risk of being infected with the virus. To tackle the problem, the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have undertaken a number of campaigns, including an HIV/AIDS prevention campaign. The NGOs and the government have also been urged to provide care for those Papuans living with HIV/AIDS who have been ostracized by their communities. The Jakarta Post correspondent Nethy Dharma Somba looks at the issue in this special report.

The spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua has been alarming since the virus was first detected in the province 11 years ago. The Papuan Health Office estimates that 62,210 people across the province are at risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS virus first appeared in the province in Merauke, Papua, allegedly transmitted to sex workers by Thai fishermen. It has now spread to the remotest areas of the province.

"The virus has spread faster than the efforts being made to curb it," said the head of the Papua HIV/AIDS Eradication Committee (KPAD), Constant Karma, who is also the vice governor of the province.

According to the Papua Health Office, the people most at risk of infection from the virus are drug addicts who share needles, their sexual partners, female, male and transvestite sex workers and their customers.

The estimated 60,000 at risk of infection is a significant number out of a total population of 2,516,310, consisting of 1,322,890 men and 1,193,420 women.

The health office estimates that there are currently 11,042 people in the province living with HIV/AIDS.

That estimate is much higher than that the 1,910 HIV/AIDS cases actually reported to the health office. The main cause of HIV/AIDS transmission in Papua is through sexual intercourse.

Most of the people infected with HIV/AIDS are in their productive years, between the ages of 15 and 39.

To curb the spread of the virus, the Papua KPAD, in cooperation with a number of non-governmental organizations, introduced a campaign several years ago promoting the use of condoms. However, many religious groups have criticized the campaign, fearing that it will encourage sex outside of marriage.

"Religious leaders only suggest that we resort to prayer. Prayer certainly strengthens a person's faith, but prayer alone is not enough if there is no other action. Does not God expect us to pray and also to work hard?" said an HIV/AIDS activist from the Jayapura Support Group, Robert Sihombing.

Robert said those people engaged in high-risk behavior, such as having intercourse with a sex worker, were especially encouraged to wear a condom. In addition to its condom campaign, the KPAD is also empowering younger people through positive activities such as a band contest currently being held in Jayapura.

"Such an event is aimed at providing youths with positive activities, because they are prone to temptations at that age. If they do not have worthwhile things to do, it could lead to drugs, sex and other activities that might lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS," said the executive director of Papua KPAD, PS Ukung.

Another campaign being waged by the Papua NGOs is aimed at educating the population about people living with HIV/AIDS. This campaign is important because many people still refuse to accept the presence of people living with HIV/AIDS in their communities.

Not only do people ostracize them, but medical workers have also discriminated against people living with HIV/AIDS. This was the case of a Sorong resident, Tom (not his real name), 42, who required dental care after a motorcycle accident but kept being turned away by dentists.

"Each time I went to the dentist to fix my teeth, I was always honest and told them that I had HIV/AIDS. They always rejected me and only gave me a prescription. Do you think that medicine can fix my teeth," Tom told The Jakarta Post.

"People living with HIV/AIDS are still looked down upon and ostracized. If this goes on, efforts by the government and HIV/AIDS activists to stop the rapid spread of the virus in Papua will be fruitless," said Robert.