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Semarang records highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in C. Java
The Semarang region is home to 3,130 people living with HIV/AIDS, the highest concentration of people with the disease in Central Java, which is home to 4,472 cases
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he Semarang region is home to 3,130 people living with HIV/AIDS, the highest concentration of people with the disease in Central Java, which is home to 4,472 cases.
'The HIV/AIDS epidemic has spread in regencies and municipalities across the province. However, 70 percent of the cases are from Semarang City,' Indonesia Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI) Central Java chapter director Elisabeth Widyastuti said as quoted by kompas.com in Semarang on Monday.
She said 9.8 percent of total HIV/AIDS cases in Semarang affected teenagers. As many as 400 teenagers were infected with the disease, which could spread through sexual intercourse and injecting drug use.
Elisabeth elaborated that between October and December 2013, there were 437 new HIV infection cases or 145 people per month.
'Of the total, 10 percent of the new HIV cases have affected teenagers, or around 15 people have been infected by the disease every month,' she said.
To reduce the spread of the disease, Elisabeth said, HIV/AIDS-infected people should not feel ashamed to seek medication in both community health centers and hospitals. She indicated that some people still feared HIV/AIDS as they considered it as a 'lethal' infection.
'HIV/AIDS is a manageable infection. Medicines for the disease are already available. The most important thing is that the infected people must routinely consume the drugs every day throughout their lives,' said Elisabeth. (dyl/ebf)
