The West Java administration has declared a state of emergency in its fight against HIV/AIDS, with high prevalence among non-risk groups such as homemakers.

In his opening speech at the coordination meeting of the provincial AIDS commission (KPAD), West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan said Tuesday that the prevalence of AIDS in the province was higher than that of HIV, while infection rates among homemakers were higher than those among sex workers.

"This is very concerning, particularly because most of the people living with HIV/AIDS here are in their productive ages," Heryawan told the meeting in Jatinangor, Sumedang.

Data from the West Java KPAD shows that as of March this year, 2,682 AIDS cases and 1,838 HIV cases had been reported in the province.

The report also said the number of homemakers living with HIV/AIDS was higher than that of sex workers, with 295 and 259 cases respectively.

Heryawan urged all 26 regents and mayors in the province to keep implementing the seven-point commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially after its status had been elevated to emergency status.

He also called on the community in the region to work hand in hand in their respective neighborhoods to help create a healthy social environment.

He added that almost 85 percent, or 3,838 people, living with HIV/AIDS in West Java were aged between 15 years and 49 years, meaning the epidemic would further strain economic and social ties among the community.

"We ask the KPAD to establish a special assistance team tasked with advocating on and handling the HIV/AIDS pandemic from the provincial down to the regency levels, to make sure all the programs run effectively," he said.

He added that with the emergency status, there would be no more reason to not prioritize the handling of HIV/AIDS in the province, including in terms of funding. He urged the KPAD to work closely alongside government efforts in fighting the disease, as well as with local and international NGOs committed to the cause.

National AIDS Commission (KPA) secretary-general Nafsiah Mboy, who also attended the meeting, welcomed the governor's move to elevate the status, saying it showed the province's seriousness in dealing with the disease.

"It's really an anomaly to see such high prevalence among low-risk groups like families," Nafsiah said.

Ignorance of what husbands do outside the home has been blamed for the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among homemakers.

Miska (not her real name), 30, who tested positive for HIV two years ago, agreed.

"My husband worked in Jakarta. How could I have known what he did with every minute of his life?" she said.

She added she only learned her husband was HIV-positive after he died.

Another homemaker, Ratna (also not her real name), 32, from Ban-dung, concurred.

She said she did not know her husband's habit of sharing needles when injecting drugs could lead to his being infected with HIV.

"I thought it was only sexual intercourse that could transmit HIV/AIDS from one person to another," she said.

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