On Dec. 1 the world celebrated World AIDS Day. Countries in the Western world observe many awareness days, such as that of World AIDS Day, and also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place every October.
If we take a look at Indonesia’s enthusiasm and drive to raise awareness about many big diseases such as HIV/AIDS or even breast cancer, we are nowhere close to the global community’s fight against such diseases.
Although our nation of Indonesia is slowly becoming an open-minded society, it is quite clear that the idea of HIV/AIDS creates isolation and fear among people, especially those that are less-educated.
Today many Indonesians that have contracted HIV/AIDS are afraid to admit they have the disease and they fear of what society might think of them. There are several difficulties that our country will continue to face in our fight against HIV/AIDS.
One of the difficulties is the confusion and lack of information today’s younger generation have about sex. Today’s generation assume that free sex is cool because they see it on television and in fact it is true that that practice of having sex has become more common now than it has been in the past.
With very little information spread by the government, a large number of young (and seemingly) old people will continue to have free sex because they are not too informed or aware about STDs and what safe sex is. The thought of this is scary if HIV/AIDS programs are not implemented more actively by the government.
It must be acknowledged here that the Indonesian government had in fact created a few programs in an attempt to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in late 2008, but in reality nothing much has been done.
People like myself are quite concerned because we may see an increased number of individuals that have contracted the disease, more specifically women.
In an article in The Jakarta Post, it was stated that the percentage of women living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia has risen steadily from 2.5 percent in 1989 to 25.5 percent in 2009. It is staggering data and due to the seriousness of the disease. All Indonesians ought to be more aware and serious in raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and fighting the disease.
Simple actions such as wearing a red ribbon to campus, work or malls or anywhere are so easy but hard for people to remember. If we wear a red ribbon and people who do not know why we are wearing a red ribbon can ask us and we can simply answer “It is World AIDS Day,” and that in itself is already helping the global society and our fellow brothers and sisters who has contracted the disease.
In a society full of uneducated people, those who have a higher education must break down the barricades and preconceived notions about HIV/AIDS so we can help our government but most importantly so we can help humanity.
Furthermore it should be mentioned here that raising such awareness and fighting the disease should not be done on only Dec. 1 every year, but it should be done every day of every year. Ask a friend, family, acquaintance, and loved ones to share your passion so we can start flipping the chart arrow that is currently going upwards and instead make it go downwards.
Cantika Paramitha R.
Bandung
