Wrong message about HIV/AIDS

On Aug. 25, Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia (TPI) aired the program Tele Tawa, a comedy featuring the Srimulat group. It was about wedding plans that nearly went wrong because the prospective bridegroom was thought to be a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) carrier.

The program was meant to entertain viewers but it contained several scenes that caused concern.

The family of the prospective bride went into a panic, fearing it could be a contagion. They had no idea of the difference between HIV and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

The doctor called in had no knowledge of HIV and AIDS. He did not want to come into contact with the prospective bridegroom and even supported the idea of prohibiting the suspect from taking part in cooking activities. The doctor, aided by the father of the prospective bride, took blood from the prospective bridegroom, against the latter's will, for laboratory test purposes.

The blood test proved that the man was not HIV-positive. He was, instead, the victim of slander by a broken-hearted person. Everybody was relieved.

Srimulat is a theater group that is well known and popular. What they convey to the community speaks to many people. However, there is an apparent lack of sensitivity on the part of Srimulat and TPI with regard to HIV and AIDS and the impact of such a program.

Currently community organizations and the government are making efforts to impart the right information on HIV and AIDS to the community. The information includes explanations on how HIV can be contracted, in what way it is not infectious, ethics about HIV tests, counseling for test results, how to help HIV-positive people and how to care for those with AIDS.

Viewing HIV and AIDS in a non-objective way, with incomplete information, will give rise to unreasonable fear. This will hamper efforts to spread the right information and will encourage discrimination.

HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. It does not assail a person's dignity. Precautionary measures can be taken if the method of contagion is known.

HIV lives in the blood, sperm and vaginal fluid. It is infectious through unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, HIV-infected needles and it can be passed by an infected pregnant woman to her baby.

The virus is not contagious through everyday social contact such as handshakes, hugging, eating and drinking together and the use of common facilities (toilets, swimming pools, transportation vehicles etc.)

In the case of an HIV-positive person, we can say that their quality of life can be maintained.

Srimulat and TPI please help us inform our community so that people can face HIV and AIDS with an open mind. Do not foster rejection and fear.

For further information on HIV and AIDS, the address to contact is Yayasan Mitra Indonesia and the telephone numbers are: 310-0855 and 392-1608; Pokdisus AIDS FKUI/RSCM, 390-3838 (24 hours) and 390-5250 (office hours); and Yayasan Pelita Ilmu, 835- 4691 and 829-5663.

SUZANA MURNI

BABY JIM ADITYA

Jakarta