People with HIV counsel peers, meet President

People with HIV counsel peers, meet President

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

HIV/AIDS has too often been unfairly seen as a punishment for
leading a high-risk or impulsive life, but a woman forced into
prostitution by her father says for her the infection was "a
blessing".

"I was sold by my father to a pimp here in Jakarta when I was
13 years old, and I could not get away from that life because my
father kept on coming to collect money from my pimp," said the
woman, breaking into tears.

Her liberation finally came when she was told that she had
contracted HIV/AIDS; the "good news" that allowed her to leave
her profession.

"I finally got out of that horrible life and now I work for
the Bandung Wangi as a councilor for many women working as sex
workers like I was before," she told President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono at the State Palace on Friday as part of the
commemoration of World AIDS Day on Friday.

Bandung Wangi is one of several NGOs dealing with people
living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

Ministry of Health statistics say 5,071 people are known to be
living with HIV/AIDS in the country, but health activists
estimate the actual figures are between 90,000 and 135,000
people.

According activist Baby Jim Aditya, the number of people
living with HIV/AIDS in the country increased by about 50 percent
from 2002 to 2004, the highest increase in the world.

"There are three countries in East Asia that recorded an
estimated increase of more than 50 percent -- China, Vietnam and
Indonesia, -- but Indonesia has recorded the highest rise in the
world," Baby was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.

Baby said the sharp increase was partly due to rising drug use
-- particularly involving injecting drug users -- and increasing
sexual activity.

Most people living with HIV/AIDS in the country and around the
world were believed to be women, she said. They were often
infected by their male partners without their knowledge or
against their will, she said.

A woman living with HIV/AIDS told Susilo she had began to
rebuild her life again thanks to the retroviral pills she took
that were subsidized by the government.

"I hope the government can continue this program, which
started a couple of years ago, or if possible increase the
subsidy for us," the woman said.

Susilo said in his speech that the government was fully aware
of the position of women and the dangers they faced from the
virus.

"From this forum, I want to once again remind the people of
our national values and traditions to respect marriage and to
stay loyal to one partner," the Susilo said.

He reminded the meeting of the importance of family values to
keep children away from sexual promiscuity and drug use.

"We have to save our children because it is better to prevent
them from getting the virus as there is no medication to cure
it," the President said.

He ordered all governors and regents to submit monthly reports
to the health ministry about their efforts to stop the spread of
the virus in their regions.

"I will asks for reports every three months from the Minister
of Health," Susilo said.