VIVAnews - The spreading of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, mainly in Papua, has reached its critical point. Based on data of the National AIDS Commission, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Timika Regency, Papua, has reached 1,793 by the end of 2008.
As many as 1,440 people are infected by HIV, while 353 people are AIDS positive. Not only is the virus infecting grownups, it also infects children. "There are 39 children under ten years of age who are infected by HIV," said Secretary of AIDS Commission, Nafsiah Mboi, as quoted from the Website of the Communication and Information Department on Thursday, Feb. 26.
There are 55 children under 15 years of age who have been infected be the virus. Data of the Department of Health showed that 2.7 percent of children under 5 years of age in Indonesia have been infected by HIV.
Those are based on the recorded data. The negative stereotype on people living with HIV/AIDS causes numerous infected people to live in isolation and conceal their ailment. The data known to the society is only 10 percent of the real number of people living with HIV/AIDS due to the fact that the suspected people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia may have reached 230,000.
"The number of the identified people living with HIV and AIDS reaches around 22,000. It is due to the lack of HIV/AIDS testing facilities," Mboi said. HIV awareness among injecting drug users is even higher than it is on teenagers. The sexual behavior of Indonesian youth has still yet unaltered. "This condition is apparent by the low use of condom from 2002 until 2008," added Mboi.
Condom is not only recommended to unmarried couple but also for married people. Married couples are suggested to use this contraception. The commission's secretary also said that if one of the couple goes to commercial sex services, the spouse or even the baby can be infected.
Based on data of the Department of Health, there were 17,998 cases of HIV/AIDS with 6,310 HIV positive, and 2.684 deaths in mid 2008. The biggest infected groups are those people of between 20 and 29 years of age, while children living with HIV/AIDS amounted to 1,000.
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Translated by: Ariyantri E Tarman
