Seminar gets down to the facts on sex, AIDS and drugs
By Hyginus Hardoyo
JAKARTA (JP): What does someone with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) look like?
The answers varied among hotel employees in a seminar at The Regent Jakarta last Monday. Some said they were skinny and covered with pimples on their faces, and others described them as pale, exhausted and ugly people who frequently missed work.
An employee even raised his hand and jokingly pointed to his colleague sitting next to him.
It was one of the scenes from the half-day seminar on sex, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and drugs.
The questioner was Danny Yatim of Mitra Indonesia Foundation, which specializes in educating about preventing HIV transmission, and the participants were about 200 employees of The Regent Jakarta.
Was there a glimmer of truth to any of the answers?
"Of course not because there are no specific physical characteristics of people with HIV," Danny said.
He added that HIV can only be detected through blood tests provided by a handful of hospitals and non-governmental organizations, including Mitra Indonesia, in the country.
He said official data showed there were 1,146 AIDS and HIV- related cases in Indonesia as of March. "Of the total number, 293 cases involve AIDS and the other 853 HIV," he said.
Jakarta has the highest number of AIDS and HIV cases (347), followed by Irian Jaya (298), Riau (112), East Java (78) and Bali (60).
He warned that the data was the tip of the iceberg in which for each reported case there were 100 unreported ones.
To guard against contracting HIV, Danny recommended a number of steps, including practicing sexual abstinence, faithfulness to one partner, safe sex, including using condoms for oral sex and/or sexual intercourse, and for drug users to use sterile syringes.
The other speakers were Joyce and David Gordon of the Harapan Permata Hati Kita foundation and Boyke Dian Nugraha, a noted gynecologist and sex consultant.
Joyce and David spoke about the danger of drug addiction in the country, touching on how addicts become acquainted with drugs for the first time and the path to rehabilitation. "There are about three million drug addicts (mostly users of heroin and low- grade heroin known as putauw) in Indonesia at present," David said.
They warned that drug addiction was becoming increasingly prevalent among the young, and was now found not only among university students but also high school and junior high school students.
Boyke's discussion of proper sexual behavior drew attention. As soon as the doctor with the distinctive high-pitched voice was invited to speak, an increasing number of on-duty hotel employees left their work behind to enter the meeting room, including chefs in their distinctive uniforms, some spattered with food.
The participants laughed in unison, whistled or applauded whenever Boyke jokingly talked about the strange sexual dynamics of relationships, including the lengths a man will go to in the quest to sleep with his girlfriend.
"Girls, beware of your boyfriends' 'empty' adulation. Men will do whatever they can to persuade their girlfriends that they really, really love them. Remember that everything they do has an ultimate aim -- sex!
"Once a man is allowed to kiss you, for example, he will ask you to let him open your blouse. And as soon as you give permission, he will ask you to open the lower part of your bodies. Before going any further, stop it right there."
He advised women to think twice before having sex.
"You will be on the unfavorable side as you have not gotten married yet.
"If the men ask for your virginity to prove your love, don't easily give it to them. You are not a motorcycle which should be for trial use," he said to widespread laughter.
The situation became chaotic when slides were shown comparing a flaccid penis with an erect one. Many members of the audience hooted and others sat still in their seats. A number of participants, especially women, covered their hands with their eyes, although even they appeared curious to peep at the striking images.
It was Boyke's graphic way of showing that seemingly innocent petting can lead to difficult situations.
"Look, this is the result of sexual stimulation, especially through kissing. Don't go too far, especially if you and your partner are not married yet."
Boyke underlined the importance of sex education to help prevent unwanted situations, such as pregnancy outside of marriage, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. "As hotel employees, don't be easily snared in promiscuity. Be loyal to your spouses."
The Monday's seminar was one of several programs held by the staff of The Regent Jakarta and The Regent Four Seasons Residences during May with the aim of creating awareness of the importance of a healthy mind and body, chairwoman of the organizing committee Irma Rachmawati said.
Other activities included a free consultation on sex, AIDS and drugs for the staff, bazaars, sport events and another seminar on healthy food and healthy living.
It is part of the hotel's efforts to create a kind of fine art of hospitality, The Regent's director of human resources Endah Fadjar said.