HIV/AIDS activists warned the public Wednesday against the risk of HIV transmission from using needles dumped by intravenous drug users (IDUs) in public places.
The Jakarta Health Agency reported that about 49 percent of free syringes given to people living with HIV/AIDS had not been returned. Between January and September this year, the agency handed out 51,468 needles but had only received 25,987 of those syringes back.
“Many IDUs said they threw away used syringes into trash bins, sewage waterways, and vacant lands,” said Lamganda Sihombing, a program manager for Gerbang, an NGO that aims to help drug users.
“If this is true, it can be very dangerous for the public. Anyone who is injured by these syringes might transmit HIV. Children might also play with the needles and get injured,” he said.
As a way to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among IDUs, 20 community health centers in the city have given free syringes to IDUs living with HIV/AIDS. The community health centers are the only legal places for IDUs to get new syringes, since pharmacies are not allowed to sell them to people other than medical staff. (mrs)
| 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|