Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A women's alliance has called the campaign against HIV/AIDS infection in Papua ineffective, citing the steep rise in cases in the last several years.
A number of Papuan women of the Women's Challenge Alliance held a demonstration to observe World Women's Day in Abepura on Saturday.
"We are disappointed with the current ineffective handling of HIV/AIDS infection in Papua... which has spent too much money (on education and campaigns) while not providing care, support and treatment," said Fauzia Hayati Raharawin who coordinated the demonstration.
She said the efforts needed immediate review because more and more people had been infected and those with HIV/AIDS had received discriminatory treatment from medical workers.
"Anti-AIDS pamphlets and banners are found almost in all public places. Seminars and workshops are held and the information campaign has also been intensive in local media but the number of people with HIV/AIDS continues to increase," she said.
There are currently 90,000-130,000 people with HIV/AIDS in the province, a drastic increase from 4,500 cases in September 2004.
Fauzia condemned the discriminative treatment of people with HIV/AIDS, saying many health workers had rejected treating them.
The demonstration ended after protesters placed a flower wreath on a tomb in a public cemetery, saying it was to express their condolences for the death of the local AIDS prevention committee (KPAD), which they said had spent so much money making pamphlets, leaflets and banners and holding workshops.
The committee held the Papua Condom Bi-week (PKP) 2008 throughout the province last month to combat the sharp rise in HIV/AIDS cases. The campaign, from Feb. 2 to 16, aimed to provide HIV/AIDS education and called on people to practice safe sex.
"The program was conducted with film presentations and public discussion at Sentani Airport, Phraa market and Sentani terminal as well as on a PT. Pelni ship which sailed to certain areas," Dewi Wulandari, spokesperson for KPA Papua, said Friday.