People with HIV hope for better year

People with HIV hope for better year

JAKARTA (JP): A group of people with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus in Indonesia have expressed the hope that 1996 will see
better access to medicines and less stigmatization by society.

"In 1995...there seemed to be a passive stance in the
provision and registration of certain drugs," according to a
letter, written by a person who has the virus, read yesterday
during a ceremony to mark the first anniversary of Support, a
monthly publication focusing on people with HIV/AIDS.

"In times of emergencies, our friends have had to go abroad to
seek the necessary medicines. But not everyone can do this,"
according to the letter, which was read by Susan, a volunteer
with Pelita Ilmu Foundation, publisher of the magazine.

Drugs are both scarce and very expensive, the letter said.

For instance, anti-retroviral drugs, which are needed to
extend a period without AIDS symptoms, cost Rp 400,000 (US$175)
and one needs to buy them every 20 days.

Sjamsuridjal Djauzi, a medical consultant at the foundation,
said only a few of dozen drugs needed by people with HIV/AIDS to
overcome additional infections such as tuberculosis, have been
registered by the Ministry of Health.

The letter was written by a person with HIV on behalf of other
HIV-positive people coordinated by the foundation.

Pelita Ilmu, in its second annual honors for individuals and
institutions, rewarded a musician, Anto W. Soemartono for his
work in supporting anti-AIDS campaigns.

For the category of institutions, it rewarded East Kalimantan
provincial administration for its intensive information drive
against HIV/AIDS despite only one HIV-positive case being found
in the province.

The letter also expressed resentment at the way the Indonesian
media have treated people with HIV/AIDS who had volunteered to
come forward to present their case.

"If we choose to come forth, it is because we wish to
participate in the important work related to HIV-positive people
in Indonesia, not to be an attraction," it said.

It claims media exposure always labeled people with HIV/AIDS
who come forward as a "making confessions" and their identities
are partially hidden like criminals.

"(We) are exposed more as victims, as those who have deviated,
or those who have repented," the letter said.

Susan added that an alternative for those who have agreed to
be exposed in the media should be a more "humane" image, such as
the portrayal of a person with loved ones.

They should be requested to talk on their future hopes and
plans, rather than revealing their past before they were
infected, Susan said.

Sjamsuridjal said that HIV-positive people may not realize the
impact of exposure, "because of their spirited drive to take part
in the campaign work (related to HIV/AIDS)."

The dilemma of exposure will no longer exist, he said, when
HIV/AIDS is no longer linked to moral issues. (anr)