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IV/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.

Lamganda said many drug users were reluctant to ask for or return needles to the community health centers because they feared being arrested.

"According to a survey we held last year, 65 percent of IDUs with HIV/AIDS feared that the police would arrest them for possessing needles," he said

Lamganda said there were cases in which police officers had extorted money from HIV/AIDS patients and social workers who were in possession of syringes.

"The police said the needles were evidences that the patients had violated the law because they were using drugs. This discouraged patients from taking and returning needles. Workers also felt intimidated for doing their job," he said.

Jakarta Police narcotics division chief Sr. Comr. Anjan Pramuka denied the allegation.

"I have never heard of a case like that. We only arrest people for the illegal possession of drugs," Anjan said.