Wamena, Jubi – Jayawijaya AIDS Commission (KPA Jayawijaya) Margaretha Wetipo in a press conference on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, said the number of HIV/AIDS patients in Jayawijaya Regency reached 8,386.

"They consist of 4,133 male patients and 4,253 female patients, while the number of Lost to Follow-Up [LFU], or patients who have stopped taking drugs is 2,721 people, namely 1,208 men and 1,513 women," she said.

She added that previously, LFU only amounted to 1,000 but this day it continues to increase.

"To reduce the high rate of HIV-AIDS in Jayawijaya, it requires not only the work of KPA but all stakeholders including the government, the community, NGOs, and influential figures," she said.

According to her, KPA Jayawijaya has partnered with five NGOs in Jayawijaya but there had been no tangible manifestation from these collaborations.

"KPA hopes that NGO-partners of KPA can work as much as possible in the field, helping and saving souls with no orientation towards money," she said.

In facilitating the handling of health services for HIV/AIDS patients, KPA has also collaborated with the BPJS Jayawijaya (Health Care and Social Security Agency) and the Jayawijaya Population and Civil Registry Office, so that patients in Jayawijaya can get health examination services more easily and conveniently.

Wetipo said that in 2023, KPA has carried out several important activities to reduce the HIV-AIDS rate in Jayawijaya Regency, including condom distribution and dissemination in public places such as Jibama Market, Potikelek, and Sinakma Market.

"In addition, KPA has also held meetings with commercial sex workers in Jayawijaya, conducted dissemination [about sexual and reproductive health] at the Asologaima District, Wita-Waya District, and Wadagku District," he said.

In the future, KPA plans to conduct dissemination at schools in Jayawijaya Regency. "We may as well conduct focused group discussions with important community figures in Jayawijaya, the Jayawijaya Administration and the Mountainous Papua Provincial Government," she said. (*)

Source: https://en.jubi.id/number-of-hiv-aids-and-lost-to-follow-up-patients-in-jayawijaya-increases