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HIV/AIDS killed 10 in NTB, spread to low-risk population
Ten people died from HIV/AIDS in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) last year in a growing epidemic that has spread to housewives and children below 5
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Ten people died from HIV/AIDS in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) last year in a growing epidemic that has spread to housewives and children below 5.
NTB's AIDS Eradication Commission (KPAD) revealed 25 housewives and six toddlers were infected with the disease in the period.
"As of November 2008, 10 people living with HIV/AIDS in the province died as new cases were recorded each month. This is a matter of grave concern," NTB KPAD secretary Rohmi Khoiriyati told The Jakarta Post Monday.
June last year saw eight new cases, two involving children below 5.
As of November 2008, the KPAD had recorded 25 new HIV cases. In November, three people were found to be living with AIDS and 22 with HIV.
The patients were tested at four Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) units: Mataram General Hospital, Karang Taliwang community health center in Mataram, Mataram Mental Hospital and Praya Hospital in Central Lombok.
Since 2001, 70 AIDS and 137 HIV cases have been reported in the province.
"The spread of HIV/AIDS has spanned eight regencies and two municipalities in West Nusa Tenggara. But the most concerning matter is that it has infected 25 housewives and six toddlers despite the fact that they are not included in the high-risk category," Rohmi said.
The KPAD recently announced an alarming figure that shows in 2008 there was a higher number of reported infections involving housewives compared to people considered to be in the high-risk bracket, which includes injected drug users and sex workers.
Rohmi said AIDS had claimed 49 of the 79 people reported to have been infected since 2001. The remainder are receiving medical treatment.
"The toddlers are likely infected from their parents who are living with the disease," she said.
She said it was likely there were far more people living with the disease in the region than the records revealed.
The KPAD has said it is difficult to know the true number of people living with the disease in the country because many people with the disease are unaware they are infected and because there are a limited number VCT clinics on Lombok.
"Based on the trend over the past several years, the people who are most willing to visit VCT clinics are those from Sumbawa Island and Sumbawa, Dompu and Bima regencies," Rohmi said.
She said a concerted effort was necessary to raise awareness about the disease and to squash the damaging mind-set that it is shameful to live with the disease, which was a big factor discouraging people from getting medical attention.
"Don't ostracize them any longer," Rohmi added.
