SEMARANG – The Central Java Provincial Government is synergizing to suppress the spread of HIV/AIDS infection. This is because the estimated cases in Central Java reached 52,677 people, of which 35,238 people were confirmed with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
The head of the Central Java Health Service (Dinkes) Yulianto Prabowo said the earlier PLWHA was found, the faster treatment would be carried out. Because, when infected with this disease, the person must take medicine for the rest of his life.
“Everyone must collaborate, including sufferers and their families. The numbers are large, but don’t be surprised, because we are obliged to reveal, seek, and find them so that they can be treated immediately,” he explained in a public chat on TVRI Central Java, Tuesday (12/30/2021) night.
Yulianto said that in Central Java there were an estimated 52,000 cases of HIV AIDS. However, until now only around 72 percent of this figure has been found.
With this condition, his party never stops educating through various media. In fact, education about the dangers of the disease is also delivered in schools.
The Deputy Governor of Central Java and the Chairman of the Central Java HIV/AIDS Commission, Taj Yasin Maimoen, said that there were difficulties in disclosing this case. The reason is, sufferers of this disease often get negative stigma from the surrounding community.
“To reveal is quite difficult, because there is justification from the community. If you are exposed to HIV/AIDS, talk to your doctor immediately, because the more we acknowledge, the more we can save the family,” said Gus Yasin, the deputy governor’s nickname.
Therefore, his party continues to educate people so that they know very well about this disease. In addition, education is important so that negative stigma can be removed.
The Head of the Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Section (P2PM) of the Central Java Health Office, Irma Makiah, said the handling of HIV/AIDS had been hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic. But now, it continues to push for testing for at-risk populations.
Those who are at risk of being infected with this disease include female sex workers (FSW), users of injecting needles (injecting drugs) or IDUs, men who like men (MSM), and those who have been in contact with people who are HIV/AIDS positive.
“We encourage districts and cities to achieve minimum service standards. Then the reagents were delayed due to imports, now they are available again. Therefore we encourage to run services mobile VCT, do case searches, we supervise and mentor regularly,” he said Wednesday (12/1/2021).
Apart from pushing Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), his party also cooperates with non-governmental organizations to outreach risk groups. Because, to enter the group has its own difficulties.
He revealed that the number of HIV/AIDS test services was 1,043 spread over hundreds of health services. Starting from 325 Puskesmas, 90 hospitals, and four health centers.
Data in the health pocket book of the Central Java Health Office, the number of findings of HIV cases until the third quarter of 2021 reached 1,945 cases. Meanwhile, AIDS cases reached 522 cases. (Pd/Ul, Central Java Diskominfo)
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