Papua's churches on front line of AIDS fight

Antara, Manado

Papuan churches have joined forces to battle the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region, a church leader said in Manado, North Sulawesi.

Rev. Domianus, who was attending a church function in Manado, said churches in Papua had started the Oikumene Movement to fight the spread of the virus.

As part of the movement, the churches hold retreats and Masses for young people, to warn them of the dangers of unprotected sex and sharing needles.

The churches also teach young Papuans not to discriminate against or ostracize people living with HIV/AIDS.

The movement is exposing young people to the knowledge they require to avoid HIV/AIDS, while also teaching them that it is safe to embrace, literally and figuratively, people living with the virus.

HIV/AIDS has spread through Papua at an alarming rate since first being detected in the province 11 years ago. The Papuan Health Office estimates that more than 60,000 people across the province are at risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.

The virus first appeared in Papua in Merauke, allegedly transmitted to sex workers by Thai fishermen. It has since spread to the remotest areas of the province.

An at-risk population of over 60,000 is significant in a province with a population of 2,516,310 people, consisting of 1,322,890 men and 1,193,420 women.

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

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

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