Prison medics trained in HIV/AIDS treatment
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Concerned by the rising number of inmates testing positive for HIV, the Pelita Ilmu Foundation (YPI) held on Saturday a workshop for prison medical workers on treating people living with the virus.
The workshop, held in cooperation with the University of Indonesia's School of Medicine, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and the Dharmais Cancer Hospital, was attended by 23 medical staff members from the Cipinang, Salemba, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi penitentiaries.
YPI founder and immunologist Zubairi Djoerban said the workshop was urgent as the number of inmates infected with HIV had reached alarming levels, and was still rising.
Recent data from the health ministry shows that 24.5 percent of random blood samples from inmates at a penitentiary in Jakarta tested positive for HIV.
There are currently 383 correctional facilities across Indonesia, with approximately 75,000 detainees and inmates.
Some 14 percent of inmates are serving time for drug-related crimes -- and 20 percent of these inmates are intravenous drug users (IDUs).
"The figures could be higher as it is no secret that drug abuse is rampant in many penitentiaries," Zubair said. "Overpopulation and homosexual practices among inmates, meanwhile, have only worsened the situation."
Zubair said the workshop would provide strategies on how to prevent the spread of HIV among inmates, particularly by fighting drug use and improving living conditions in the penitentiaries.
The main focus of the workshop, however, will be training the medical workers on how to properly treat inmates with HIV/AIDS using antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.
"The use of ARV drugs is currently the main treatment for HIV/AIDS, but improper use of these drugs could cause side effects such as anemia or miscarriages," he said. "We will also provide the medical workers with information on how they can acquire the needed ARV drugs."
YPI vice chairman Husein Habsyi said the workshop was also in line with a program from the World Health Organization to increase access to ARV drugs to 3 million people living with HIV/AIDS -- an estimated 10,000 in Indonesia -- by 2005.
Husein said Indonesian state pharmaceutical company PT Kimia Farma produced generic ARV drugs that cost about Rp 380,000 (US$42.22) a month.
"Inmates should be included in this program, because they have the same right to the drugs as other people living with HIV/AIDS," he said.
According to data from the health ministry, there are 4,389 people who have tested positive for HIV/AIDS in Indonesia. However, it is estimated that up to 130,000 others are also living with HIV/AIDS.
Fina, a doctor at Cipinang Penitentiary, said the workshop should also have provided information on how to access laboratory equipment for conducting blood tests.