HIV/AIDS ON THE RISE AMONG CITY'S INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS

JAKARTA (IO) — About 30% of drug addicts in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and
Bekasi (Jabotabek) who shoot up with needles suffer from HIV and hepatitis
C, an official said yesterday.

"Nationally the number of drug addicts who suffer from HIV has reached 15%
of the nation's 1.5 million users of illegal drugs, and some 80% of them
also suffer from hepatitis C," said Djoko R Prayitno, secretary general of
National AIDS Eradication Commission.

He was speaking at an AIDS Day medical conference which was held to
commemorate International AIDS Day, whic falls on December 1.

Prayitno said difficulties in obtaining needles has caused many addicts to
share them.

"The problem will become worse if a needle is not sterilized from poisons
or virus. This can happen if a needle has been used just once each by putau
and heroin addicts. The combination between putau and heroin can produce a
dangerous poison," he told Mandiri Online.

Addicts can get a prescription from a doctor to buy needles at pharmacies,
where they sell for approximately Rp3,000 each. Many addicts don't bother
getting prescriptions, so needles are often shared and the risks of
infection are ignored.

At the same conference, HIV/AIDS observer Zubairi Zurban said that over the
last four months he has received between 4 and 10 drug addicts every week
contaminated by HIV.

Nearly all hospitals in big cities around the country have recently
received drug addicts suffering from HIV.

Commenting this year's AIDS Day theme of "Man and AIDS, A Gender Approach"
Zurban said it was chosen to suggest that men should be more careful
because they often play the main role in the spread of the incurable virus.

"Most men's activities are done outside the house. And sexual activity is
usually initiated by men, so they have more potential to pass on the
HIV/AIDS virus to women, rather than women to men," he added.

According to Health Ministry data, Indonesia in October this year had 1,521
HIV/AIDS cases. Of that figure, about 1,145 of the carriers were agred
between 15-49-years-old. At least 702 of the sufferers were youths and
young adults aged 15-29-years-old.

To commemorate AIDS Day on December 1, the Indonesia AIDS Foundation (YAI)
will pin red 'AIDS Care' ribbons on shoppers at malls and shopping centers
in Jakarta and Bekasi.

"The activity will take place from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at several
shopping centers, like Plaza Senayan, Blok M Plaza, Mal Ciputra, Plaza
Slipi Jaya, Mal Pondok Indah, Metro Department Store, and at Mal
Metropolitan Bekasi," the YAI said in a statement issued yesterday.

The activity, which will also involve the distribution of stickers and
brochures, will aim to continuously remind people about the AIDS danger so
there will be serious efforts to minimize and prevent the deadly virus, the
statement said.