Seminar gets down to the facts on sex, AIDS and drugs
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.