Tony Hotland and Hera Diani, Jakarta – The next time someone advises you against using a condom, tell them the Vice President ordered you to. That was the clear message being sent by Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Friday as he marked World AIDS Day.
To the likely chagrin of conservative elements, Kalla stressed that condom use among active couples and clean needles for drug users was of key importance to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
"If anyone objects, tell them it's my order," Kalla said, while adding that the campaign was not an endorsement of promiscuity or drug use.
"It must be understood by all, including religious leaders, that this keeps the virus from spreading. I believe that it is less sinful than not using them because you don't spread the virus to your spouse or children," Kalla said.
Kalla also touched on the fact that when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases and drug use, society is often too timid to speak openly. Without transparency, the most effective weapon against this virus – information and public awareness – becomes impotent. It is this lack of openness that seems to be indicating that Indonesia is not winning its fight against the global scourge.
"We must be aware that the trend in Indonesia is growing, while in Thailand or Singapore (numbers are) going down," Kalla said. "There's the danger."
Official numbers of total HIV/AIDS reports in Indonesia are small, with 11,604 infected, of which 1,651 have died. But independent experts estimate that the real figure is somewhere between 169,000 and 250,000 people infected. About half are believed to be intravenous drug users.
AIDS activists are already concerned, noting the rising prevalence of infection in the general population, beyond the high risk groups of commercial sex workers and drug users.
A number of housewives and babies have been found to be HIV positive. The Health Ministry estimates that around 9,000 mothers with HIV give birth every year in this country. Without intervention, around 3,000 babies are at risk of being infected.
Husein Habsyi, deputy vice chairman of the Pelita Ilmu Foundation said that such infections could be avoided through the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission treatment program, which consists of giving antiretroviral prophylaxis to the HIV positive mother, conducting a caesarean section during labor and giving powdered milk to the baby. But such programs are still focused mainly in Jakarta and other big cities.
A lack of awareness also creates the social stigma that causes discrimination, as Alex, a Papuan living with HIV/AIDS, can sadly testify. "Health services for HIV/AIDS patients aren't available to most of us and medical staff (usually) look down on us," he said, addressing Friday's ceremony, held here at Kalla's office.