Some 200 high school students in Batam, Riau Islands, have joined an anti-HIV/AIDS campaign held by the government to raise awareness about the virus among the young generation. 

As campaign ambassadors, the youths made a pledge on Wednesday to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent themselves from getting infected with HIV and to support those who have been infected, as well as not to engage in stigmatization or discrimination.

According to Riau Health Agency data, up to 1075 people have been infected with HIV and 305 of them are suffering from AIDS.

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"This is a worrying state. If we continue to let this happen, then the future generation, especially in Riau Islands, will collapse," said the agency's head, Tjetjep Yudiana, as quoted by the Antara news agency. "It's time for the youths to come together with the government and communities to prevent the spread of narcotics and HIV/AIDS."

The Health Ministry's director general for disease control, Muhammad Subuh, said an estimated 600,000 people were infected with HIV across the nation, with tens of thousands found to be AIDS positive and thousands having died of the disease. (mra/kes)