YPI center deals with increase in HIV/AIDS

YPI center deals with increase in HIV/AIDS

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Pelita Ilmu Foundation's (YPI) center for drug users in
Kampung Bali, Central Jakarta, is struggling to curb the number
of drug users in the area and the spread of HIV/AIDS, with the
first case of HIV infection in the area recorded three years ago.

Program manager of the center, Pungky Djoko, said on Monday
that it had helped around 10 percent of 1,555 drug users
registered in the area to get clean this year.

The number of drug addicts registered with the center has
continued to increase, from 1,155 drug users in 2003 to 1,555
this year.

Moreover, HIV/AIDS is rapidly spreading among injecting drug
users based on the foundation's latest survey, which showed that
94 percent of drug users registered with the center were infected
with the virus.

"We tested the blood of 211 drug users, who regularly come to
the center for medication, at the beginning of November for the
virus. We found that 198 of them, or 94 percent, were HIV
positive or had developed AIDS. Last year, the figure was
slightly lower at 92 percent," Pungky said.

He added that the rapid spread of the virus in Kampung Bali
was mostly via needle sharing among injecting drug users.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that around 130,000
people are living with HIV/AIDS nationwide, although both the
government and activists acknowledge that the actual figure is
probably much higher.

Pungky said that the center was unable to help as many people
as it would like due to financial constraints. The center
operates on around Rp 20 million (US$2,222.22) a month.

The YPI has established several means for former drug addicts
in the area to be financially dependent, including through a
motorcycle wash, auto repair shop and handicraft shops.

As the area is notorious for drug-related activities, the only
work available to many high school graduates in Kampung Bali is
at the nearby Tanah Abang textile market, as laborers or parking
lot attendants.

Other activities that the YPI center runs include the
monitoring and counseling of drug users and HIV positive people.
The center also cooperates with the local community health center
in providing free antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for people with
HIV/AIDS and needles as part of a harm-reduction program for drug
users.

The YPI has received help from several donors, including the
University of Indonesia's school of medicine and Dharmais
Hospital in providing free medicine and free health services, as
well as the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).

Nanang A. Parwoto of the BNN said the agency had helped the
center since August by providing it with medicine, funds, needles
and equipment for its workshops.

"We will help it until December. After that, we will review
the program to determine how much we will allocate for the
following year," he said.