KLIKKALTIM – Increase community awareness and participation in handling HIV/AIDS in Bontang City, PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (Pupuk Kaltim) Holding HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) Socialization in North Loktuan Bontang Village. Activities combined with Non-Communicable Disease Examination (PTM), Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) and voluntary TB Screening, took place at BPU Loktuan Village, Friday (1/12/2023).
Pupuk Kaltim SVP of Technology Ahmad Rois, said that this activity was a form of Pupuk Kaltim’s concern for the community, especially in increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS by anticipating the potential early on. Apart from that, it is hoped that there is still a lot of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) that can be further suppressed, through the role of society as a driving force in supporting sufferers to remain enthusiastic so they can recover.
“So, in commemoration of World Aids Day this year, Pupuk Kaltim also invites the public to play an active role in handling HIV/AIDS and TB in Bontang City, as well as increasing awareness of the potential for these diseases,” said Ahmad Rois.
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According to Rois, it fits the theme of World Aids Day 2023 “Let Communities Lead” or Let the Community Lead, the role of the community in handling HIV/AIDS will greatly determine the success of the program being intensified. The massive community support factor that joins hands as movers and initiators in the movement to eradicate HIV/AIDS, has become a strong pillar of enthusiasm to support the Government and stakeholders in overcoming this problem, especially in Bontang City.
So to achieve this, it is important to have adequate education as a provision for the community to be actively involved with all other related parties, so that the slowly increasing number of HIV/AIDS and TB sufferers can be reduced, by raising awareness among all elements of society.
“Through this outreach, we can increase understanding regarding HIV/AIDS and TB, so that we can anticipate all potential that can cause and impact body health from an early age,” said Rois.
Head of Loktuan Village, Hadi Jumianto, considers this activity to be a strategic step in efforts to optimally handle HIV/AIDS, by increasing public awareness through comprehensive education so as to increase understanding of the importance of taking care of oneself. From this, it is hoped that the role of the community can be more active in helping the government in dealing with HIV/AIDS.
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“With the continuation of the efforts made, it is hoped that the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Bontang can continue to be reduced as public awareness increases,” said Hadi.
Representing the Bontang City Government, Head of the Health Service, Drg. Toetoek Pribadi Ekowati, appreciates Pupuk Kaltim’s steps in educating the public to anticipate the spread of HIV/AIDS and TB, as well as increasing awareness through various preventive efforts that can be taken. He said, until November 2023 there were 112 HIV cases found in Bontang City. The sufferers are currently undergoing treatment at community health centers and hospitals.
Meanwhile, according to data from the Ministry of Health, housewives are the most frequently infected with HIV, reaching 35 percent of the total population. One of the causes of high HIV transmission is low knowledge of prevention and the impact of the disease, as well as having partners with risky sexual behavior. Meanwhile, 734 TB cases were found in Bontang City, with 40 percent of them being infected in children.
“So with this activity, it becomes an effective means for housewives and the general public to find out more about HIV/AIDS and TB and their dangers. So that various potentials can be anticipated well, along with increasing public understanding,” said Drg Toetoek.
He also hopes that this activity will be carried out regularly, in order to further encourage the creation of public awareness of the dangers of HIV/AIDS and its transmission. Where anticipatory steps are important to take, including regular checks to ensure that you are not exposed. Such as VCT and TB screening services which are also facilitated in this activity, are forms of active steps by Pupuk Kaltim that can be utilized by the community to get themselves checked voluntarily.
“We express our gratitude for Pupuk Kaltim’s initiative in educating the public on the commemoration of World Aids Day this year. We hope that with the efforts carried out, together we can suppress the spread of HIV/AIDS and TB in Bontang City,” concluded Toetoek.
2023-12-05 05:24:57
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