Papuans educated on HIV/AIDS

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.