Agus Maryono, Purwokerto – The number of HIV/AIDS cases in Banyumas, Central Java, has been growing steadily every month, sparking public concern, while local authorities have done little except set up Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) clinics to make blood tests accessible.
Concern mounted lately following the Banyumas chapter Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) disclosure in the past week that 72 bags of plasma from donors were positively contaminated with the HIV virus.
"We are very concerned. The Banyumas regency administration should take immediate steps to overcome the problem. Innocent people must be protected from this deadly disease," Banyumas legislative vice speaker Musaddad Bikri Noer told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Besides the 72 infected bags, the PMI also found hundreds of bags contaminated by viral and bacterial diseases, such as syphilis and hepatitis B and C.
Head of the Banyumas PMI blood transfusion unit Agus Zulianto told the media 604 bags of contaminated plasma were in safe hands and would be immediately destroyed.
He said of the 604 bags, 72 were infected with the HIV virus, 156 with syphilis, 276 with hepatitis B and 100 with hepatitis C.
Agus said the blood had come from walk-in donors who donated at the PMI offices. It was not announced when the blood had been collected.
"From test results, we are 90 percent certain of the contamination. We will destroy them on Thursday to prevent infection," said Agus.
Legislator Musaddad urged the local health office to take required measures to prevent the spread of AIDS in Banyumas.
"HIV/AIDS cases are on the rise by the month. What has the health office been doing? This is a matter of grave concern and an embarrassment," said Musaddad.
Musaddad said the brothels in Baturaden, which openly employ about 200 sex workers, was encouraging the spread of HIV/AIDS in Banyumas.
Banyumas is ranked second highest in HIV/AIDS infection cases in Central Java after the provincial capital Semarang.
"I urge the health office to conduct blood tests on sex workers in the Gang Sadar red-light district in Baturaden. If need be, close the brothels. We don't want Banyumas to become a breeding ground for AIDS," Musaddad said.
Separately, head of the Infectious Disease Prevention agency at the provincial health office Ani Pratiwi confirmed a monthly increase of on average 10 HIV/AIDS new cases in Banyumas.
Looking at the data on the newly infected, Ani said, seven people were infected in June, eight in July and 12 in August this year. The agency has not yet tallied the number of new infections in September and October.
She said 333 HIV/AIDS cases in all were recorded as of August this year in Banyumas, comprising 228 with HIV, 69 who have tested positive for AIDS, and 36 deaths.
"We have provided two VCT clinics for HIV/AIDS tests but most people are too embarrassed to go for a check-up. What else can we do?" Ani told the Post.