Jakarta – The number of Indonesian people contracting the HIV has been on the rise over the past couple of years, according to one NGO.

Pelita Ilmu Foundation has noted that the number of people living with AIDS topped 298,000 in 2009, 25 percent of whom are women.

The foundation's deputy chairman Husein Habsyi said the prevalence of HIV among people aged between 15 and 49 years will increase from 0.22 percent in 2008 to 0.37 percent by 2014.

New HIV cases among women is also expected to increase, which will in turn increase the number of children born with the virus.

According to the foundation, HIV cases in children will increase from 3,045 in 2008 to an estimated 5,775 in 2014. Currently, there are 7,546 children registered living with HIV, Husein said.

Adding to their difficulties, 66 percent of the HIV positive children have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS-related diseases.

"They are taken care of by their grandparents and most suffer malnutrition," Husein said.