With the changing pattern of HIV, which is transmitting at a more rapid rate to the heterosexual partners of infected men, counselling and testing have become the backbone of government programs to prevent the spread of the deadly infectious disease.

Unfortunately, many Indonesians are still reluctant to undergo voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT).

“Many people in our society are unwilling or are afraid to check whether they have the disease,” said Husein Pancartius, secretary for the National AIDS Commission’s (KPA) East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) chapter.

He said that thousands of people living in 22 regencies and municipalities across the province’s seven islands — Alor, Flores, Lembata, Rote, Sabu, Sumba and Timor — had tested positive for HIV and AIDS.

“As of August, the number of people infected with HIV and AIDS has reached 5,000,” said Husein, citing NTT Health Agency data.

The figure is a significant increase from the agency’s February data, which revealed a total of 3,700 infected people.

“The diseases have spread both in terms of location — infecting even people living in remote areas — and age groups, with people of all ages and across professions getting infected,” said Husein.

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