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RI must step up efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS by 2030
The IAC, using an estimate of 640,443 people with HIV/AIDS, found that only 54 percent of them were aware of their status, 21 percent had undergone ARV therapy and 3 percent had seen their viral load suppressed.
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Students paint slogans on T-shirts about HIV/AIDS during a program organized by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) at the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Island Circle in Jakarta recently. The program was organized as part of PMI’s campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among youngsters. (The Jakarta Post/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
his year's World AIDS Day has prompted calls to reflect on what Indonesia has been doing wrong in its efforts, or lack thereof, to tackle the epidemic as the country falls far behind screening and treatment targets.
In 2016 Indonesia joined other countries in committing to the United Nations General Assembly’s Political Declaration on Ending AIDS to reach the 90–90–90 targets by 2020; 90 percent of people with HIV/AIDS being aware of their HIV status, 90 percent of them getting ARV treatment and 90 percent of them having their viral load suppressed.
This is part of a global effort to end AIDS with zero new infections, zero deaths and zero stigma and discrimination by 2030.
However, the Health Ministry's director for direct infectious diseases, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said during a press briefing on Monday ahead of World AIDS Day, which falls on Dec. 1, that only 63 percent of people with HIV/AIDS were aware of their status, 26 percent had undergone treatment and 4.5 percent had seen their viral load suppressed.
Nadia calculated the figures by using the 2018 estimation of 543,100 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country, a decline from a 2012 estimation of some 630,000 people.
"This is a moment where we should reflect on our mistakes and failures that have made us unable to achieve the 90-90-90 targets in 2020," Indonesia AIDS Coalition (IAC) executive director Aditya Wardhana said during a separate press briefing on Monday.
The IAC, using an estimate of 640,443 people with HIV/AIDS, found that only 54 percent of them were aware of their status, 21 percent had undergone ARV therapy and 3 percent had seen their viral load suppressed.
