RSCM offers free of charge HIV screening

JAKARTA (JP): The Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta will be offering free testing for HIV from Sept. 25 to Dec. 4.

"We have free tests every Monday to commemorate International AIDS Day (Dec.1)," said Zubairi Djoerban, a member of the hospital's special study group on AIDS (Pokdisus AIDS) yesterday.

Registration at the group's center at room G4 on the second floor of the hospital starts from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

"We aim to spread awareness of the need to take Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) tests and to inform the public of where they can get services to take tests and medical care for those found to be HIV-positive," Zubairi said.

"We also hope that this program will help encourage many more places in the country to provide these services."

Persons who might be interested in taking the test, he said, are those who may have behavior which makes them vulnerable to the disease.

The group includes those who may have had more than one sexual partner, or think their partner may have had sexual intercourse with someone else other than themselves.

Lukas Mangindaan, a psychiatrist with the hospital's AIDS team, said that the free services, the second conducted by the group, ensure confidentiality.

He said counseling before and after testing is an inseparable part of the free program.

"We will inform people that if their tests are HIV-negative, this does not mean immunity for life against HIV and AIDS," Lukas said. "We will counsel them on how to remain negative."

"If their behavior entails risks we would advise them to return in another two months," he said, in view of the "window period" in which a previously undetected virus may come up in a following test.

Lukas said the counseling will also prepare people who test HIV positive, "or else someone may immediately commit suicide".

Last year's free program was conducted once a month, but because of the considerable response, this year's free services are being provided once a week, Zubairi said.

There was an average of 35 to 40 people who came for counseling in one day in three sessions last year. At least one of them was found to be HIV positive, he said.

The national figures on HIV/AIDS reveal an additional 10 affected people, totaling the official record to 326 since 1987.

This consists of 78 full-blown AIDS cases, of which 50 have died, and 248 HIV positive persons. The highest figures of HIV/AIDS are in Jakarta with 111, followed by 74 in Irian Jaya and 33 in Bali.

Fifty of the cases in Irian were Thai fishermen who have returned to their country. (anr)