Cilacap holds HIV/AIDS vigil

CILACAP: Coinciding with the National Awakening Day, which falls on May 20, an HIV/AIDS vigil was held Thursday night at Cilacap administration office to highlight the escalating number of HIV/AIDS victims in Central Java.

Interim regent Tatto S. Pamuji led the ceremony attended by local figures and representatives from NGOs, including the AIDS Control Commission (KPA).

"In a small town like Cilacap, we have hundreds of people living with HIV/AIDS. Everyone should be concerned about this," Sardjono, the regency's secretary, said.

He added that as of April, of the 152 people living with HIV and 55 with AIDS, 33 had died.

Central Java has one of the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia with 2,000 people reported to be living with HIV/AIDS as of July 2009. - JP