Administration Officer of Jayapura Regent Edison Muabuay said in Sentani on Sunday (Feb 5) that according to research in several countries, circumcision was one of the preventive steps to reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS.
"Therefore, the circumcision obligatory program will be regulated in 2012, to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in Papua," said Muabuay.
According to data of Aids Handling Commission (KPA) and Health Department of Papua, the sufferers of HIV/AIDS in Jayapura had reached 796, including 335 HIV cases and 461 AIDS cases.
Based on these numbers, 330 cases or 41.5 percent are male and 466 cases or 58.5 percent female.
"The worst is that the disease infected people of all ages and sexes. This number should be our concern and take breakthrough steps. In Papua, we will oblige circumcision," he said.
Muabuay further said that to implement the program smoothly, Jayapura Administration received fund from the Regional Income and Spending Budget of 2012.
He was also ordered the Health Department and Regional Public Hospital of Yowar in Jayapura, to provide the necessary instruments for the program.
"The instruments will be distributed among the clinics of districts because the program only covers people in towns, but also villagers," Muabuay said.
According to KPA, HIV/AIDS infected people of different backgrounds, with a domination of housewives with 235 cases, followed by 102 cases of commercial sex workers, 94 cases of laborers/farmers, 80 cases of private company employees, 54 cases of students, 46 cases of civil servants, 10 cases of the Army, 6 cases of the police, 5 cases of street sex workers, and 4 cases of religious leaders.
"Those prove that the handling of the HIV/Aids is a collective responsibility of the society, religious leaders, indigenous leaders, youths, and also government," Muabuay added.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
