“HIV Prevalence in West Papua and Southwest Papua Provinces: Only 2.3% of Population Tested since 2013”

TRIBUNPAPUABRAT.COM, MANOKWARI – The West Papua Provincial Health Office (Dinkes) reports that the prevalence of HIV cases in West Papua and Southwest Papua Provinces is 2.3 percent of the population.

Head of the West Papua Health Office’s Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) Division, Nurmawati said, this means that there are 20,045 HIV cases that must be detected early.

However, from 2013 to April 2023, there were only 6,909 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

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From the findings of HIV cases, Nurmawati revealed that only 2,829 PLHIV were currently being treated with antiretroviral drugs (ARV).

“For the most (HIV) cases, according to the population. Sorong city with 1,900 cases and Manokwari 1,700 cases,” said Nurmawati when interviewed by TribunPapuaBarat.com in Manokwari, Tuesday (30/5/2023).

He admitted that the findings of HIV cases by health surveillance personnel were still far from the expected target.

HIV prevalence in Sorong City is 5000 cases and Manokwari Regency is 3600 cases.

Nurmawati said, the more people who undergo early detection of HIV, the ARV treatment can be started immediately for those who are confirmed positive.

Thus, the chain of transmission can be broken and the national target of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030 can be achieved.

The target is marked with three zeros, namely zero new infections, zero deaths, and zero stigma or discrimination.

“Often asked, why HIV cases continue to increase. Yes, because the prevalence is high, 2.3 percent of the population (West Papua),” said Nurmawati.

He said the benchmark for the success of surveillance workers was that more and more people were doing early detection of HIV.

According to the 95-95-95 commitment, that is, 95 percent of people living with HIV (PLHIV) know their HIV status, 95 percent of PLHIV are treated, and 95 percent of PLHIV who are treated experience viral suppression.

Because, one of the sexually transmitted infections, it has no symptoms and it took about 10 years until it was discovered that he had AIDS.