AMBON, DM.COM, – Number of cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) continues to increase significantly in Ambon City.
As a result, the Ambon City Government (Pemkot), in this case the Health Service (Dinkes), to handle HIV/AIDS cases in the city called Manise, the Health Department directly visited places that were at risk of HIV transmission.
“In handling HIV/AIDS cases, Ambon City is very fast, because we immediately carry out screening by picking up balls in places where there is a risk of HIV transmission,” said Ambon City Health Service (Dinkes), Wendy Pelupessy, to journalists in the Vlisingen Room at City Hall. , Wednesday (13/9/2023).
It is said that the Ambon Health Office has prepared several community health centers that are ready to carry out examinations of city residents who want to check whether they are suffering from the HIV virus or not.
“We detected it early several years ago. Therefore we find higher cases of HIV/AIDS. With this early detection, we find more HIV conditions. “So that when the person concerned takes ARV medication regularly, he does not fall into Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can cause death,” explained Pelupessy.
It is said that when someone with HIV takes medication regularly, that person can carry out normal activities and prolong their life.
“Therefore, the Health Department moved quickly to detect it. Imagine the iceberg phenomenon. When we don’t detect it and think it’s safe, it turns out that extraordinary transmission occurs below. “So we are in a difficult condition to control this disease,” he explained.
Transmission of HIV AIDS, said Pelupessy, is mostly through free sex. There are also drug injections and from mother to child.
“Transmission through drug injection needles is rare. Then from mother to child, we no longer find that, because screening is really carried out in hospitals and health centers. “We anticipate this by requiring all Community Health Centers to carry out early HIV detection for pregnant women, TB sufferers and all diabetes mellitus patients,” he explained.
It is said that transmission through free sex is related to behavior. Therefore, we are reminded not to engage in casual sex. If you do, be reminded to use a condom.
“If there are findings, to speed up the process of breaking the chain of transmission, further screening will be carried out,” he said.
Pelupessy reminded us that we must realize that this disease cannot be cured. So when cases rise, it is impossible for them to disappear immediately. The number will decrease when the person concerned dies.
It was further explained that the cumulative number of HIV cases from 1994 in the city of Ambon until now is 2,370 people.
“So from 1994-2023 there were 2,370 HIV cases. “For AIDS cases, the cumulative figure is 993 and those still taking medication to date are 1,176,” he detailed.
It was stated that cases from January to August 2023, after sorting out those with Ambon City ID cards and not Ambon City ID cards, there were 184 new cases.
“Ambon City has quite high numbers, because it is the capital with very high mobility. Many people entered and exited the city of Ambon, so that the city of Ambon alone had 94 new cases of Ambon City E-KTP. This is by name by address. For those outside the city of Ambon, including other regencies and cities in Maluku and from outside Maluku, there are 90 people. Which is 94 by name by address and it is being treated and monitored. “Those from outside the city of Ambon are also still being handled, treated and monitored for taking ARVs by friends at the health service and friends in the HIV counseling and treatment community,” he said.
He added that medicine is provided free of charge and up to now ARV supplies are sufficient. “The point is that the Ambon City Government is moving quickly so that we can treat them, so that their life expectancy is better and they can carry out activities like us healthy people. “It’s just that there is the HIV virus in his body,” concluded Pelupessy. (DM-02)
2023-09-13 14:43:14
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