SEMARANG – The Central Java Provincial Government’s commitment to realizing three zeros for people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) continues to be intensified. The three zeros include zero new infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma and discrimination towards an AIDS-free Indonesia by 2030.
Deputy Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin Maimoen, said that up to now, the estimate for PLWHA in Central Java has reached around 52 thousand people.
“Last year’s AIDS Day, I had a conversation with a group of PLWHA in Banyumas. I get a lot of input, and it must be followed up. It is estimated that there are 52,000 people living with HIV in Central Java,” said the Head of the Central Java AIDS Commission (KPA), confirmed at the deputy governor’s official residence, Monday (21/2/2022).
Gus Yasin, as the Deputy Governor is known, said that he would integrate several related agencies, in order to make it easier for PLWHA to receive treatment.
According to him, the handling must be from upstream to downstream. For example, if a person is identified with HIV/AIDS, then the government must provide comprehensive treatment. One of them is the facilitation of NIK for PLHIV who do not have it.
Gus Yasin said that NIK was a requirement to register at the hospital. After registering they will get Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to suppress the HIV virus.
“If they take ARVs, the virus is sleeping, so it doesn’t have the potential to infect. For example, they don’t have a NIK, the list is difficult, getting medicine is difficult. It is feared that later there could be new infections, if so,” he explained.
Gus Yasin appealed to the public not to discriminate against PLWHA. According to him, if the community accepts, then PLWHA will be more open. Openness is important for the government to handle. Thus, efforts to realize the three zeros can be carried out completely.
“There’s a lot of information. Let me invite people not to discriminate. We must together provide support to PLWHA. Don’t stay away from them,” he concluded. (Central Java Public Relations)*ul
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