Yayasan Hati Hati and BIWA 's Social welfare team are working together to develop a ‘one-stop' clinic for HIV/AIDS patients and drug users.
Yayasan Hati Hati's program Manager, Vicky, noted that many patients in both these groups face discrimination and a less than caring attitude when they go to the public health service for support.
It is hoped that funds can be raised to provide a simple but safe, professional and caring ‘one stop' health service for local people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This will include a needle exchange scheme for drug users. Yayasan Hati Hati already has an office so what is needed most is :
medicine for coughs and colds and other similar ailments commonly suffered by HIV/AIDS victims
more furniture for the proposed ‘one stop' clinic room
funds to pay for the services of a local nurse and doctor
Officially there are 4,389 people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia although the Government estimates that the real figure is closer to 130,000. No one knows for sure because the stigma surrounding HIV keeps accurate statistics hidden.
It is known that the six HIV hotspots in Indonesia are intravenous drug users (IDU) in Jakarta , nearby Bandung , and in Bali, and commercial sex workers in Surabaya , Makassar and Papua. It is also reported that 46.5% of AIDS cases were IDU acquired, and a further 36.3% contracted AIDS through heterosexual transmission.
Young people aged 20-29 accounts for the highest proportion of AIDS cases in Indonesia (54.2%), followed by the 30-39 age group (25.1%), and the 40-49 age group (8.6%). The male: female ratio of AIDS cases is 5.08:10
( Source: Directorate General of Contagious Disease Control - Ditjen PPM & PL - January through March 2005).
Social Welfare
