Officers routinely carry out tracking and inspection
Ambon (ANTARA) – The Ambon City Health Office noted that the number of HIV and AIDS cases has increased to 271 cases in 2022, and is dominated by same-sex behavior.
The Head of the Ambon City Health Service, Wendy Pelupessy stated, the increase in HIV and AIDS cases was influenced by high-risk sex with men who have sex with men (MSM).
“In the past, most cases were in Commercial Sex Workers, now it is dominated by MSM, which is influenced by lifestyles with productive age under 45 years,” he said.
According to him, deviant sexual behavior is one of the causes of HIV/AIDS transmission, such as having multiple partners and men having sex with men (MSM).
“We recognize HIV transmission because sexual behavior likes to change partners, especially same-sex MSM and it is evident from the data that the number of cases has increased,” he said.
Read also: KPA: Productive age is dominated by HIV AIDS sufferers in Maluku Read also: KPA Maluku: 392 cases of HIV transmission were recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic
He acknowledged, HIV cases have increased every year, in 2021 there were 116 cases and in 2022 there were 253 HIV cases and 18 AIDS cases.
Meanwhile, data up to February 2023 recorded 15 new cases of HIV and one case of AIDS.
“The increase in the number of cases is because officers routinely carry out tracking and examinations so that new cases are obtained in 2023,” he said.
Wendy stated, in 2021 they would not carry out intense tracking and inspections due to the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022 examinations would be carried out so that there would be an increase in the number of new cases.
His party continues to disseminate information to the community and related stakeholders to jointly prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
Also read: Bukittinggi wins the 2022 National HIV/AIDS service award
Also read: Bali won the best award in handling HIV/AIDS 2022
Also read: Bintan Health Office says 32 residents contracted HIV-AIDS in medical treatment
