Rise in AIDS cases calls for legal reforms

Rise in AIDS cases calls for legal reforms

BANDUNG (JP): Social workers called on the government yesterday to make laws on AIDS prevention and the treatment of people suffering from the disease.

A team of social workers from the School for Social Welfare presented yesterday the results of their recent research and concluded the absence of such regulations may have led to social ostracism of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients.

This ostracism, according to the team led by Harry Hikmat, constitutes a violation of human rights and prevents AIDS patients from leading productive lives, the experts said.

Harry and his colleagues, Didiet Widiowati and J. Marbun, agreed that any strategies adopted to fight AIDS should incorporate human rights concepts.

The researchers stressed that, in dealing with the rising cases of the deadly disease, the authorities should not rely on "rational approaches" only.

Instead, the government should consider the human aspects of the issues and strive to ensure that people with AIDS or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which leads to the disease, can lead productive lives.

"No matter what the strategies are, the question of human rights should be considered and be included in the programs that the government wish to develop," Harry said.

The team called on the authorities to be "more open" and not hesitate to learn from other parties, including the non- governmental organizations (NGOs), which have had more experience in dealing with the problem.

Harry suggested that, if need be, the authorities should adopt programs which have been established by NGOs and implement them at a national level.

The 37 local NGOs actively involved in the campaign against AIDS can "spearhead researches and anti-AIDS programs", he said.

Minister of Health Dr. Sujudi recently said that the number of people infected with AIDS in Indonesia may reach one to two million by the year 2000 unless preventive steps are taken seriously.

Official figures show that the number of Indonesians who have tested HIV positive and those with AIDS has reached 275.

The government has established a special inter-ministerial commission, as well as prepared national strategies, to launch an anti-AIDS campaign.

So far, however, many NGOs have complained of having to work alone because of the authorities' apprehension of cooperating with them, Harry said.

"These organizations often can't even get the authorities' permission to hold lectures on AIDS prevention in schools," he said.

Harry pointed out that there are government officials who still harbor suspicions of NGOs' activities. "We need to establish a forum of cooperation between the government and the NGOs," Harry said.

"The government should definitely support NGOs' activities," he said. "If necessary, the government should even establish special cooperation projects with NGOs in combating AIDS."

Harry said the government will benefit from cooperating with NGOs as they have already established programs involving hot line services, counseling and outreach activities. In addition, the authorities could have access to the NGOs' information network.

Fahry Siregar from the West Java provincial office of Ministry of Social Services agreed to the establishment of better working relations with NGOs.

The team of researchers also suggested that the issue of AIDS be introduced into the school curriculum, albeit with appropriate tailor-made approaches.

"This is important because AIDS is no longer merely a health or family problem, but a social issue," Harry said.

Another expert, Benny Setianagraha of the School for Social Welfare, called on all parties involved in anti-AIDS campaigning to find more effective ways to deliver their messages.

"A smiling cartoon face on a poster which says `avoid AIDS, use condoms' may create an impression that AIDS is a pleasant, instead of serious, issue," Benny said.

"Such messages may fail to reach their targets, because not everybody can understand," Benny said.

"Educated people may understand, but those with poor educational background, such as prostitutes, who are actually an important target group of this campaign, may not. This is dangerous." (pet/swe)