Hundreds of Sexual Workers Infected HIV/AIDS

The number of people with HIV/AIDS keeps rising every year in West Jakarta area. Most of the carriers are women who infected through sexual intercourse. From West Jakarta AIDS Management Commission data, in Tamansari nightclub, Mangga Besar, 448 sexual workers are infected with transmitted diseases in 2012. There are 211 sexual workers of this number positively infected HIV/AIDS virus.

We do not close the possibility of HIV/AIDS spread is greater than the existing finding since many nightclub managements do not care on the health condition of the workers

Meanwhile in West Jakarta, there are 329 people with HIV virus and 185 people positively infected AIDS. This number is conducted by City Health Department and collected from a number of areas prone to HIV/AIDS virus transmission, especially in nightclubs and prostitution locations.

"We do not close the possibility of HIV/AIDS spread is greater than the existing finding since many nightclub managements do not care on the health condition of the workers,” said Suhaya, Head Promotion and Prevention of West Jakarta KPA, Wednesday (6/25).

East Jakarta is The Highest Rate of HIV/AIDS

Suhaya admitted that his party continually strives to suppress the spread of these malicious viruses. West Jakarta KPA had made efforts through three preventive measures, such as promoting safe sexual intercourse, providing advocacy support and disseminating HIV/AIDS knowledge.

Besides that, West Jakarta KPA signed the commitment with regional working unit (SKPD), head of sub-district, urban village until the owner of nightclubs and other society elements.

"HIV/AIDS is the responsibility of KPA and SKPD associated in first hand with public’s health. For that, we hope there is coordination in disseminating, promoting, and advocating in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS,” said Suhaya.

Suhaya added that West Jakarta is appointed to be a model of getting to zero program to prevent HIV/AIDS. In 2015, three cities and seven countries are agreed to combat HIV/AIDS till the zero point.

"West Jakarta Barat as the pilot project of getting to zero program, for that the SKPDs need to remember with the agreed commitment. The spread of HIV/AIDS need to be prevented,” stated Suhaya. 

In other side, there are only 60 percent of 305 nightclubs in West Jakarta which care on checking the workers’ health in avoiding PMS or HIV/AIDS.

“Commonly the bosses of nightclubs are reluctant to spend medical checkup cost. They prefer to fire the workers or let them to stay working,” stated Suhaya.

Besides that, based on Ministry of Health’s data, Jakarta has the highest HIV/AIDS carriers. In 2011, the AIDS increased to 5,650 cases and HIV to 5,555 cases. Ironically, every year the case always rises until 25 percent to 11,205 cases. Meanwhile the second rank is placed by Papua with 3,939 cases and followed by East Java with 3,809 cases.