There were 24,131 people living with AIDS and 55,848 people with HIV in Indonesia by December 2010, Agung Laksono said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono stated the handling of HIV/AIDS spread in Indonesia needs to be improved.

"There are three indicators on the effort to eradicate HIV/AIDS that need to be improved namely the use of condom in risky locations such as port and prostitution complexes, the percentage of teenagers aged 15 years above having an adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS and the percentage of regional government which actively conducted programs to eradicate HIV/AIDS spreading in their area," said the minister here on Monday after attending a function to award ten governors which were considered to have been succeeded in conducting programs related to the eradication of HIV/AIDS in their area.

Minister Laksono said there were 24,131 people living with AIDS and 55,848 people with HIV in Indonesia by December 2010. Areas with the highest number of spread were Jakarta, East Java, West Java, Papua, Bali, West Kalimantan, Central Java, North Sumatra and Yogyakarta.

The minister said the government had actually run a program to distribute condom for free for people who were working in HIV/AIDS spread high-risk locations namely in port and prostitution complexes. However, the program was hampered as many prostitution complexes in several provinces were shut down. "It`s hard to trace those sexual workers as they work undercover now," said the minister.

Minister Laksono also commented on the funding of government activities related to eradication of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia which were still originated from foreign aids namely from the US, Australia and Global Fund.

He expressed hope to see regional governments funding such activities from local budget within the next two to three years ahead. "I also hope there will be more skilled personnel for anti HIV/AIDS campaign who are dispatched to provinces and districts in Indonesia," said the minister.

During the Monday awarding activity, there are ten governors who received the award for their contribution to the eradication of HIV/AIDS in their area. They are Muhammad Sani (Riau Island), Rusli Zainal (Riau), Eko Maulana Ali (Bangka Belitung), Fauzi Bowo (Jakarta), Sultan Hamengku Buwono X (Yogyakarta), Rudy Ariffin (South Kalimantan), Syahrul Yasin Limpo (South Sulawesi), Sinyo Hari Sarundajang (North Sulawesi) and Frans Lebu Raya (East Nusatenggara).
(T.A051/A051/F001/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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