Syringe share boosts HIV spread

JAKARTA: Ninety percent of drug users in Indonesia use unsterilized needles, while less than 10 percent of men who had frequent sex used condoms, contributing to a growing number of HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia, the United Nations (UN) warns.

A report by United Nations AIDS, released on Friday ahead of the World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, said that as a consequence HIV/AIDS prevalence among sex workers had steadily increased in Kalimantan, Papua and Riau.

The highest number of HIV infection among sex workers was recorded in Sorong, Papua. --JP