Yohanes Seo, Kupang – Indonesia and Timor Leste signed a memorandum of understanding covering cooperation on preventing HIV infection in both countries. The MoU signing was conducted at the National AIDS Mitigation Commission (KPAN) in Jakarta on Thursday, April 28, 2016.
Husein Pancratius, secretary of the East Nusa Tenggara branch of the KPAN, told Tempo that the MoU signing was conducted by KPAN secretary Kemal Siregar and Timor Leste AIDS Mitigation Commission secretary Danial Marcal.
"The cooperation is aimed to improve public role in preventing and mitigating HIV/AIDS," Kemal said on the sidelines of the MoU signing. According to Kemal, both countries have agreed to build strategic cooperation to address HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly in border areas. He explained the cooperation covered information exchange, technical assistant exchange, consultant exchange, staff development, seminar and conference, and other activities. Danial Marcal said that HIV/AIDS had been threats for citizens of both countries. "The cooperation is aimed to save lives," Danial added.
KPAN secretary Husein Pancratius said that the agreement was a follow up of effort initiated by the East Nusa Tenggara branch of KPAN over the last two years. "We're also focusing on improving public participation in villages located in border areas," he said.
Data from the East Nusa Tenggara Health Agency revealed that as many as 3,700 HIV/AIDS cases had been found by late December 2015. The death toll stood at 1,062 people. Meanwhile in Timor Leste, as many as 604 people were found infected by HIV, and 65 of them died due to the virus.