Prostitutes tested HIV positive

Prostitutes tested HIV positive

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A health official revealed
yesterday that six of the 500 prostitutes working in West Timor
have been infected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Dr. Fen Olof Manik, in a meeting with some government
agencies' officials in Kupang, called for concerted efforts to
stop the virus spreading.

Governor Herman Musakabe agreed that there should be a unified
campaign, saying it should start with residents. "Don't go to
red light districts...soon the prostitutes, after running out of
customers, will leave," he said.

Official data shows that there are 35 brothels in the
province, with most prostitutes coming from East Java.

May's official statics say that 390 people are infected with
HIV and full-blown Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Of
the 95 AIDS victims recorded, 59 have died. The other 295 listed
are HIV-positive.

Jakarta has the most infected people with 137 HIV and AIDS
carriers. Irian Jaya is second with 102, Bali and East Java each
have 33 and Riau has 29. (yac/swe)