"The 2,070 cases means 8.76 pct of the national figure. This condition is very alarming," head of the E Kalimantan social agency H Bere Ali said here Thursday, quoting reliable data.
He added that the 2,070 cases consist of 1,707 HIV cases and 363 AIDS cases.
The fatal disease has spread to almost all parts of East Kalimantan, including Samarinda, Balikpapan, Tarakan, Kutai Kartanegara, Nunukan, Malinau, East Kutai, West Kutai, Berau, Paser, Bulungan, Panajam Paser Utara, Bontang and Tana Tidung.
He added that according to data of the Health Ministry, in 2009 there are 23,632 HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia.
Various attempts of preventing and overcoming HIV/AIDS continued. But their handling was still very limited, and the efforts even not covered the groups prone to HIV/AIDS.
The causes of the fatal disease include inadequate initiatives and activities of preventing HIV/AIDS, the lack of access of the public to conducting HIV/AIDS tests, lack of information and knowledge about HIV and AIDS.
Another challenge facing the stakeholders in their attempt to minimize this disease is the lack of openness of the public which made them being infected by HIV/AIDS.
He said right now in the regions including East Kalimantan are actually still in the transitional phase, namely the traditional culture which is now being abandoned, but a modern living pattern has not been achieved yet.
"An attitude of those prone to HIV/AIDS had already been changed, but still facing the possibility of being infected, they are still reluctant to admit it or have themselves examined by medical personnel," he said.
But he is optimistic that with continued guidance and directives HIV/AIDS prevention will be better integrated and improve, and more people would become more informed about the dangers of the fatal disease.
Guidance is also expected to increase knowledge, understanding, and attitude, transform information, communication, motivation, and education in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in East Kalimantan. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
