Group to help govt tackle HIV/AIDS

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 07/19/2008 11:02 AM  |  National

Founders of a newly established group of people living with HIV/AIDS say they want to help the government address the HIV/AIDS problem in the country.

The Indonesian Network of People Living with HIV (JOTHI) was established on July 9 with the aim of upholding the rights of infected people.

On Friday, JOTHI representative Iman Permana said the group would give HIV/AIDS patients the chance to voice their opinions to the government and to participate in various advocacy activities, including fighting the stigma and discrimination faced by patients.

"AIDS is not only a health problem. It has become a social and cultural issue because of the stigma and discrimination against infected people," Iman said.

"We want to be more than just a symbol in a counseling or discussion session on HIV/AIDS. We want to be involved to fulfill our rights as human beings."

Fonny Silfanus, deputy program director of the National Commission on HIV/AIDS, said the commission supported the new group and welcomed it as part of joint efforts in dealing with HIV/AIDS.

"We appreciate the establishment of JOTHI because our efforts in tackling HIV/AIDS have yet to yield significant results. We need to cooperate with the 'key population' -- the people living with HIV/AIDS -- so they can also play vital roles in the issue," she said.

She acknowledged there was widespread discrimination against infected people, even from health officials.

"HIV/AIDS patients still get rejected by health workers in hospitals and clinics," she said.

She added the Health Ministry and the commission had conducted more campaigns on HIV/AIDS and provided a universal precaution guide for health workers to help end the discrimination. There are currently 230 hospitals available to treat people with HIV/AIDS.

Between January and March 2008, there were 64 new cases of HIV infection and 727 new cases of AIDS infection. Of the 791 patients, 121 have since died.

Some 212 cases were reported in West Kalimantan, with 160 in West Java and 68 in east Java.

The new cases have brought the national total of HIV/AIDS cases to 17,998 cases -- 6,130 HIV infections and 11,868 AIDS infections -- in the period between July 1, 1987, and March 31, 2008. A total of 2,486 people have died during this period.

Andreas, one of JOTHI's founders, said another problem faced by HIV/AIDS patients was restricted access to antiretroviral drugs.

"Hopefully, through JOTHI, we can get easier access to antiretroviral drugs by lobbying the parties responsible for the procurement of the drugs, and so ensure a continuous supply," he said.

"The drugs are crucial. We need to keep taking them for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get an uninterrupted supply."

Fonny called on the government to provide better management in the procurement and distribution of antiretroviral drugs.

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