Mukomuko (ANTARA) – The Health Office of Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu is targeting 4,840 local residents to undergo blood tests in the context of early detection of new HIV/AIDS sufferers in 2023.
“A total of 4,840 residents who underwent blood tests are in key populations in this area,” said the Head of Disease Prevention Control (P2P) of the Mukomuko District Health Office Jajad Sudrajat in Mukomuko, Wednesday.
He explained that residents in key populations apart from areas where there are HIV/AIDS sufferers are also in a number of places where there is potential for transmission of this disease.
He mentioned residents in these key populations, such as in areas where there are activities for entertainment venues, such as karaoke and massage parlors.
In addition, he said, the target for blood tests for TB patients in this area is because people who are infected with HIV are susceptible to TB disease.
He said that examinations were also carried out on pregnant women because there was experience of pregnant women in this area testing positive for HIV/AIDS, and after tracing it turned out that they were infected by their husbands.
He said early detection of this disease is to make it easier for health workers to monitor and provide education to sufferers of this disease.
He added that currently there are four health facilities that provide treatment services for HIV sufferers, namely RSUD, Puller Health Center, Air Rami Health Center, and Air Manjuto Health Center.
A total of 13 other puskesmas in this area provide counseling because all puskesmas in this area already have officers who are trained in counseling to people with this disease.
He mentioned that since 2019 until now there have been 33 HIV/AIDS sufferers, currently 10 people who are recorded are undergoing routine treatment, while 23 others of whom have died and some may have moved from this area.
