Jakarta, Aguratnews.com – Commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1 in the midst of the Government-19 outbreak. However, this warning still reminds us that dealing with HIV / AIDS is still a big homework in Indonesia. One of them is Papua Province, which is the region with the highest incidence rate.
Until August 12, 2020, the Directorate General of Disease Control and Prevention (P2B) of the Ministry of Health recorded the latest AIDS case data: Five provinces with the highest number of AIDS cases: Papua 23,629, East Java 21,016, Central Java 12,565, TKI Jakarta 10,672 and poly 8,572. TKI Jakarta with the highest number of HIV sufferers, 68,119, East Java 60,417, West Java 43,174, Papua 37,662, and Central Java 36,262.
The Indonesian AIDS Foundation also has the latest statistics in the top three of the province. According to non-profit organizations involved in the AIDS epidemic, there are 23,639 people living with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) in Papua, 21,128 in East Java and 12,988 in Central Java.
Therefore, efforts to prevent the spread of HIV / AIDS must continue in the midst of the Government-19 outbreak. Because it does not reduce the number of victims of the plague. If no concrete steps are taken, the spread of HIV / AIDS will continue to be a “time bomb” resulting in an increase in the number of AIDS sufferers.
According to the Ministry of Health, Papua province is still the province most affected by AIDS. This of course requires special efforts with the characteristics of the Papua region and its people. The central part of Papua Province is a hilly area with population groups that are ethnically and socio-economically diverse from the coastal areas. The southern coast contains small towns that are difficult to navigate by road. HIV vulnerability, sexual behavior, seeking health care services and access to services also vary by region.
“In fact, HIV / AIDS prevention and education campaigns require special skills. This initiative must be carried out with all stakeholders. This cannot be done individually, ”said Shinda W. Comdani, Vice President of the Indonesian AIDS Foundation, in Jakarta, Monday. 30/11).
According to the Indonesian AIDS Foundation, the high number of PLHIV cases in Papua is due to the lack of general knowledge about HIV / AIDS, apart from its geographical location.
“Access to education and treatment is not yet available. This is homework that must be completed by all stakeholders in Papua, “said Shinda.
He did not deny that the role of behavior in influencing the spread of HIV / AIDS. But once again, limited knowledge makes it clear to those in Papua that their behavior is at risk of transmitting HIV / AIDS.
“Education must be continued, don’t wait until you get sick,” said Shinda.
He also found that HIV / AIDS prevention and control efforts were somewhat hampered during this attention-grabbing Government-19 epidemic.
“We can only campaign through online appointments because we cannot meet face to face. Then in the distribution of ARVs, everything is centered on overcoming the explosion of the Government-19, “he explained.
The government has issued protocols for the delivery of HIV / AIDS services during the Government epidemic-19. In addition, service evaluations were carried out through rapid surveys to obtain an overview of HIV / AIDS services and information on PLHAs affected by the Government-19.
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