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n increased rate of HIV/AIDS among prostitutes and their clienteles has been registered along with a rise in the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in general among sex workers.

According to data from the Bali AIDS Commission (KPAD), the prevalence of sexual infection among sex workers rose to 14 percent last year, a huge jump from 3 percent in 2003.

"We expect the number to rise again this year," Yahya Anshori, a program officer at the Bali KPAD said during a training session for public health centers (Puskesmas) and private clinics treating STIs held at the Nirmala Hotel, Denpasar on Wednesday.

At least 36 doctors participated in the training. There are an estimated 8,000 sex workers in Bali.

Yahya attributed the rise in infections to the fact that sex workers are taking greater risks, which is exacerbated by their high mobility.

HIV infection is not confined to sex workers. The men who use their services contract the disease and pass it on to their wives, who in turn give birth to HIV positive babies.

"There has been no valid evaluation regarding that though, since a lot of housewives still cannot differentiate between sexually transmitted infection and the common whites *a vaginal disease*," Yahya said.

Furthermore, Yahya said, access to sexual infection treatments is far from adequate. Many Puskesmas cannot give the treatment and private doctors rarely treat people with sexually transmitted infections.

"So through this training we hope doctors can extend the access of the treatment. The earlier we treat those infected, the better we can defend ourselves from HIV," he said.

Director of Citra Usadha Indonesia Foundation, an NGO focusing on HIV/AIDS, Made Efo Suarmiartha, said she hoped that the event will raise awareness and encourage the public to prevent sexually transmitted HIV and AIDS infections.

"The training itself aims to increase knowledge and improve doctors' ability to provide treatment for the patients," Efo said.

Head of the Tejakula I public health clinic in Buleleng regency, Made Jatiluhur, supported the training, saying that it was necessary given the high rate of sexually transmitted infections in his region.

"There is a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infections and yet there is no clinic specifically for such patients," Jatiluhur said. "We have been treating sexually transmitted diseases patients with very minimal resources."

Jatiluhur, who also provides health care at his home, said he could treat up to three patients suffering from STIs at his home each day. "They're generally boys who have unsafe sex, like with sex workers they meet in cafes," he said.