Pubdate: Tue, 11 Jan 2005
Source: Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
Copyright: The Jakarta Post
Contact:  http://www.thejakartapost.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/645

MOST PEOPLE WITH HIV ABUSE DRUGS

JAKARTA: The City Commission for AIDS Control (KPAD) revealed on Monday 
that around 62 percent of the 25,293 AIDS/HIV patients in the city are drug 
abusers who use hypodermic needles.

KPAD secretary Syafi'i Dahlan told the City Council's Commission E for 
health, education, and people's welfare that his office was powerless to 
curb HIV spread as long as the city failed to curb the distribution of 
narcotics in society.

Dahlan said the number of HIV positive people was increasing in tandem with 
the rampant use of narcotics.

According to Dahlan, other people who are at high risk of being infected 
with HIV include sex workers and prisoners.

Dahlan said his commission needed support from all parties to curb the 
spread of HIV.

The city administration will increase the commission's budget in a bid to 
boost efforts to curb the spread of HIV. Last year, the city only allocated 
Rp 1 billion (US$107,500) to the commission, but this year it has allocated 
Rp 6.5 billion.

The funds will be used to strengthen the structural organization of the 
commission, including the hiring of permanent staff.

Members of the commission are government officials and representatives of 
non-governmental organizations.
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MAP posted-by: Beth