The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua is increasing every year with 319 new cases reported as of October, taking the total to 4,114 reported cases.

HIV/AIDS was first reported in Papua in 1992 when six Thai fishermen visited Merauke.

Of the 319 new cases, 174 have been confirmed as AIDS while the remaining 145 are infected with HIV, said Papua AIDS Commission (KPAD) chairman, Constan Karma.

"The spread of the HIV/AIDS virus is occurring faster than any effort to curb it," Constan told reporters Monday.

"The virus is spreading quickly as there is no vaccine and unsafe sexual intercourse is still taking place.

Constan said 90 percent of HIV/AIDS cases in Papua were through unprotected sexual intercourse.

"These figures call for a large-scale plan to handle AIDS in Papua Land (Papua and West Papua provinces) which should include new policies, strategic planning, programs and stakeholders' commitment," he said.

"We are organizing a meeting of stakeholders in Jayapura to discuss combating AIDS in Papua Land from Nov. 19-21."

Constan said the meeting was scheduled to be attended by coordinating minister for people's welfare, secretary of the Indonesian AIDS Commission, Papua and West Papua governors, regents and mayors, religious and customary leaders, youth, NGOs and people living with HIV/AIDS.

"If some leaders have an understanding of the disease and know how to deal with it, they can inform the others," said Constan.

"The most important thing is people are willing to change their unhealthy habits to stop HIV/AIDS from spreading, such as not having sexual intercourse with multiple partners."

Separately, the Papua office of the Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), Jayapura KPAD and the Papua Provincial Police jointly organized a mini-soccer tournament as part of a campaign on AIDS prevention.

Participants from 24 junior high schools from Jayapura municipality and Keerom regency will compete throughout November.

In its statement, WVI said the participating schools would receive information on HIV/AIDS during the competition.

"Sport is a good approach to education as it diverts teenagers' attention to more positive activities. And soccer is very popular among youths," said Roriwo Karetji, WVI manager for Papua region.

"They can develop their potential while at the same time build solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS." --JP/Nethy Dharma Somba

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