To wear or not to wear, condom matters in Merauke
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
Male customers to red-light districts in Merauke regency, Papua, could be fined up to Rp 5 million (US$500) for refusing to wear a condom during sex.
The penalty is based on Bylaw No. 5/2003 on HIV/AIDS prevention, and the regency administration announced recently it would begin enforcing the bylaw in an effort to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.
The head of Merauke regency's health office, Joseph Rinta, told The Jakarta Post on Monday the bylaw would be enforced in high-risk areas such as red-light districts, bars and hotels.
How will authorities check whether a condom has been used in such a private transaction as sexual intercourse? "The prostitutes can file a report," Joseph said.
He said his office assigned a medical team to give medical checkups to commercial sex workers in the regency's red-light districts, bars and hotels once a month. If a prostitute has a sexually transmitted disease, she will be required to stop working until she receives a clean bill of health.
The bylaw also attempts to protect prostitutes, who are allowed to refuse to serve clients who refuse to wear a condom.
He said the bylaw would be more effective after his office completed a three-month program to introduce the ruling to prostitutes and their customers.
Joseph is hopeful the program will receive support, especially from commercial sex workers, to help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in the regency.
The virus was first detected in Papua 11 years ago, and today the provincial health office estimates that more than 60,000 people across the province are at risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS.
The HIV/AIDS virus first appeared in the province in Merauke, allegedly transmitted to sex workers by Thai fishermen. It has since spread to the remotest areas of Papua.
To deal with this problem, the government and non-governmental organizations have undertaken a number of HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns, including programs to provide care for Papuans living with HIV/AIDS who have been ostracized by their communities.
Meanwhile, the director of the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association in Jayapura, John Rahail, welcomed the Merauke administration's campaign to introduce the bylaw.
He urged the administration to prepare clear guidelines for implementing the bylaw to ensure its effectiveness.
"The bylaw is a positive move, showing the administration's effort to prevent the spread of the virus. But without strong supporting efforts, the bylaw will mean nothing," John said.
From 1992 to Aug. 2005, the Merauke regency has recorded 772 people living with HIV/AIDS, of which 305 have died. They came from various backgrounds, including civil servants, students and housewives. Of the people recorded living with HIV/AIDS, 172 were commercial sex workers.