The Jakarta Post, February 15, 2007
Maluku calls for public HIV tests
M. Azis Tunny and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Purwokerto
In order to help measure the spread of HIV/AIDS in Maluku, civil servants and the
public are being called on take blood tests to see if they are HIV positive.
The call was made Wednesday by the head of the Maluku Health Office, Rukiah
Marasabessy.
Speaking to journalists in Ambon, Marasabessy said the blood tests were needed to
get the real figures of HIV/AIDS infection in Maluku. She said that, given the
assumption that each person with HIV/AIDS could potentially infect 10 people, the
disease could spread widely within a short period of time to all sections of the
population, regardless of age, gender or health.
Marasabessy said there were two hospitals in Ambon capable of handling people with
HIV/AIDS, namely Haulussy and Alfatah hospitals. The two hospitals employ both
trained doctors and paramedics.
"The two hospitals also provide medicine free of charge to help fight the spread of the
virus," she said.
Marasabessy said that the spread of HIV/AIDS in Maluku was alarming, as infections
in all regencies throughout the province jumped from 40 cases in 2005 to 260 last
year.
According to data from the Maluku Health Office, out of the 300 people in the province
currently infected with HIV, 125 live with full-blown AIDS.
"The real number could be much higher than that because the sufferers cannot be
easily detected except through blood tests," Marasabessy said.
The steep increase in HIV/AIDS cases has overwhelmed Haulussy Hospital. Dozens
of people have gone there to get medical treatment since early January, six of whom
later died.
Ambon Mayor M.J. Papilaja earlier instructed all civil servants to undergo blood tests,
which will be carried out in offices soon. The blood tests were announced after two
civil servants at the Ambon mayoralty administration were found to be infected with
the virus.
"The blood tests will reveal whether there are other civil servants who are infected with
HIV/AIDS," Papilaja said.
Meanwhile, in Purwokerto, Central Java, Banyumas Legislative Councillor Muktamir
said Tuesday that he was concerned by the high number of HIV/AIDS cases in the
regency and that the local administration had not done enough.
At least 73 people have been infected with the HIV virus in the regency, including
prostitutes operating at the famous Baturraden tourist site. "HIV/AIDS cases in
Banyumas have been ranked second in Central Java after Semarang," Muktamir said.
Muktamir expressed his conviction that the epicenter of the disease's spread was the
Sadar Alley red light district, where 250 prostitutes are registered.
"Unfortunately they (the prostitutes) have not received medical services from the local
health office simply because the administration does not acknowledge the district as
a legal brothel. This is very dangerous," he said.
Muktamir said that since the uncovering of the first HIV/AIDS case in Banyumas in
1993, 110 of the 193 infected have already died.
"We have reached an agreement with the provincial administration to seriously handle
the HIV/AIDS cases for the sake of saving future innocent generations," he said.
The councillor further explained that the cumulative number of HIV/AIDS cases in
Central Java as of October last year reached 970, consisting of 777 with HIV and 193
with AIDS.
In order to help prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading in Central Java, 10 regencies and
cities have already agreed to join to fight against it. The 10 regencies and cities
include Semarang, Banyumas, Solo, Salatiga, Pati, Tegal, Batang, Cilacap and
Kendal.
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