I

n the lead-up to World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, activists have embarked on a HIV/AIDS public awareness campaign in the capital under the hashtag #JakartaSadar, with teenage pop sensations at the forefront of the movement.

The Indonesian AIDS Foundation (YAI) is running a series of activities until Nov. 29 aimed at boosting participation of the city'€™s youth in an effort to curb the number of new HIV/AIDS infections.

'€œThe campaign starts with the dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS through social media channels,'€ the foundation'€™s chairwoman Martina Widjaja said at a press conference on Thursday in Central Jakarta.

She said that she expected young people across the capital could creatively utilize photos, videos and various other media forms to promote the cause online using the hashtag #JakartaSadar.

'€œAmong all provinces in the country, Jakarta has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases. From year to year, the trend of such cases in the city has also continued to surge,'€ Martina said.

As of September 2014, the total number of HIV (not including AIDS) cases in Jakarta stood at 32,782, almost 20 percent of the national total of 150,285 according to data from the Health Ministry.

However, the city'€™s high infection rates does not mean that Jakarta is the region most prone to HIV outbreak, YAI'€™s secretary Sarsanto Sarwono said.

'€œMany people living with the virus came from other provinces. But they were only known to have contracted HIV/AIDS after tests at Jakarta hospitals,'€ Sarsanto said.

Aside from campaigning through social media, the foundation, which currently has 50 active volunteers, is also opening its doors to around 30 more volunteers from the Greater Jakarta area from July to August.

'€œWe, the elder generation, have been working in HIV/AIDS prevention for years, but it seems the situation is not getting better. We think it'€™s time for the youth to join the fight. I'€™m sure they will bring many fresh ideas,'€ Martina said.

Trained volunteers were expected to help run the foundation'€™s daily activities as well as become facilitators in counseling sessions the foundation would hold three to four times a week at a number of schools, universities and communities, she explained.

Furthermore, the foundation is currently planning to hold a music concert as the peak of the campaign on Nov. 29 at well-known historical site Kota Tua in Jakarta.

For its long-running campaign, the foundation has also invited several public figures, including singers Vidi Aldiano, Indah Dewi Pertiwi and Rini Wulandari of Indonesian Idol fame, to join the cause.

'€œMany of those infected with HIV/AIDS are within the productive age range. And most people who listen to my music are within this category. My market is also the campaign'€™s target,'€ said 25-year-old Vidi, who had also been trained with basic knowledge on HIV/AIDS.

Based on data from the Health Ministry, as of September 2014, of the 55,799 AIDS cases recorded nationwide, as many as 40,216, or 80 percent, occurred within the productive age group of between 20 to 49 years old. (alm)