Support needed for national drive against HIV/AIDS

Support needed for national drive against HIV/AIDS

Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is appealing for public support to help it reach
the goal of its national strategy against HIV/AIDS.

"A guidebook should be followed with practical action and
people's awareness of its content," Husein Habsyi from the Pelita
Ilmu foundation, a non-governmental HIV/AIDS organization, told
The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The guidebook on the national strategy was launched on Friday
as a result of mutual work between the Ministry of Health and the
Office of the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare.

Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi said Indonesia expected to
see the growth of HIV infections decline by 67 percent after
three to five years since the inception of the strategy.

By the end of May, Indonesia had 2,556 reported HIV cases and
1,086 reported AIDS cases. However, the figure may not describe
the reality since many cases are believed go unreported. Some
estimate that in 2002 there were 90,000 to 130,000 people with
HIV.

Husein warned that by experience, most strategies were only
written on paper but had a low incidence of implementation.

"It is important for all the involved institutions to
comprehensively read the guidebook," he said, "So they will have
an in-depth understanding of the strategy outlined inside."

The guidebook outlines that more than 10 institutions should
be involved and work hand-in-hand to fight the virus. Among other
parties involved are government institutions, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), the community and people with HIV/AIDS
(PWAs).

Husein said there many NGOs dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS in
Indonesia. In Jakarta alone, the number reaches 100, he said, and
they are associated with the NGO Forum Care for HIV/AIDS.

He said the new strategy was far more comprehensive compared
to previous ones.

"The new strategy has more comprehensive and easy to
understand articles. So it is also expected to be easier to
implement," said Husein.

HIV/AIDS in Indonesia is mostly caused by unsafe drug
injection, while formerly unprotected sex was the main cause.

According to the Ministry of Health, 73 percent of HIV cases
were caused by unprotected sex, while 24 percent was caused by
unsafe drug injection.

"People should be aware of this change in trend of
transmission, because a different tactic would also be needed to
handle the cases," Husein said.

He also urged for the domestic production of antiretroviral
(ARV), which would reduce the price of the medicine by up to Rp
400,000 (US$44.40) per supply needed by a PWA per month.

"Generic medication is now available, priced at Rp 700,000 per
supply needed by a PWA each month," he said, "However, for some
people it is still out financial reach."

He said that at this moment only 800 PWAs could afford the
medicine every month. The government expects that by the end of
this year 2,000 PWAs will be able to buy ARV.

Pointing to government support, Husein said the minister of
health once promised to provide a Rp 200,000 monthly subsidy per
PWA.