The screening was aimed at tracking down people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) as the symptoms of AIDS cannot be detected without an examination, the person in charge of the HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infectious Diseases Program at the Tangerang City Health Office, Farida Helmy, said in Tangerang on Saturday.
“The screening should be conducted massively to detect people living with HIV/AIDS because the early symptoms of AIDS often cannot be identified by their physical appearance. They (PLWHA) look the same as people who are healthy, but their immunity has dropped drastically. Therefore, an examination must be carried out so that they can be detected early," Helmy said in an official statement.
She also advised the general public to get tested for HIV.
“For pregnant women, they are required to carry out an examination called triple elimination, which includes testing for HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and Hepatitis B at once. These are all available in all community health centers in Tangerang city," she informed.
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Head of Class IIA Tangerang prison, Herastini, expressed the hope that such education and screening activities would continue to be held to educate inmates as well as to check their health condition.
“I hope that all of them are negative here; no one is HIV positive. Besides, I hope that activities like this will continue to be held, and we are very open since this is also for the good of the residents of the Class IIA Tangerang prison, too," the prison head remarked.
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Translator: Achmad Irfan, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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