Wamena needs a hospital with standard equipment to treat HIV/AIDS patientsJayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - A non-governmental organization (LSM) in Wamena, Papua Province, complained about financial difficulty in coping with the spread of HIV/AIDs in that area.
Chairman of the Yokemdi LSM in Wamena Yoram Yogobi told visiting health minister Nafsiah Mboi here on Monday they need fund to cover the cost of treating HIV/AIDS carriers living in Papua.
Yoram said his LSM needs government assistance in the form of motor vehicles to be more mobile in providing counseling services how to prevent the spread of the disease for the villagers in interior areas.
He said currently there are 2,071 known cases of HIV/AIDS in the regency of Puncak Jaya, Papua.
They live in different small villages, therefore, higher mobility is needed especially most of the villages are located in difficult mountainous areas ,he added.
"Wamena needs a hospital with standard equipment to treat HIV/AIDS patients " he said.
The minister promised to attend to the problem faced by Wamena, saying she would ask the Papua provincial administration to provide the necessary assistance.
The minister was on a two day working visit to this Papua`s capital city top attend the launch of a program to eradicate HIV/AIDs and commission a number of clinics and hospital in this province.
(AS/F001)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
