Prison medics trained in HIV/AIDS treatment

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.