The
Indonesia HIV AIDS Prevention
and Care Project Phase 2 (IHPCP) - an AusAID project in Indonesia
Dr. Mangku Karmaya, well known as Pak Mangku, has
been assisting the Bali Commission for HIV AIDS Eradication (Komisi Penanggulangan
AIDS Daerah/KPAD). KPAD and AusAID, through the Indonesia
HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project (IHPCP), are working together
to tackle HIVAIDS and associated problems in Bali.
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As the Head of Information and
Public Relations, Pak Mangku works hard providing information and
all the latest news of the efforts carried out by the KPAD and IHPCP
as well as the many dedicated NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS.
Besides Pak Mangku's division there are 2 other
divisions in KPAD. One group is called "Planning, Organizing,
Monitoring and Evaluation" chaired by Prof. Dr. IDN Wirawan,
MPH, and the other is "Care, Treatment and Support" chaired
by Dr. Tuti Parwati, Sp PD. Those 3 divisions have been successful
in developing a comprehensive concept to deal with HIV/AIDS throughout
Bali, starting in Denpasar, Badung, Singaraja and Tabanan. These
efforts have been strengthened by the role of IHPCP in Bali to establish
a beneficial partnership with certain NGOs, other related government
offices, art and culture communities and private sectors. |
Many achievements have been made such as capacity
building for KPAD at province level and district level, ongoing social
research about the latest developments in HIV/AIDS, community mobilization
together with strategic NGO activities for HIV/AIDS from NGOs such as
Yayasan Kerthi Praja, Bali+, Yayasan Citra Usada Indonesia, Yayasan Hati
Hati, Yayasan Hati Kita and others. These NGOs play an important role
in Bali. They work hard to help people living with HIV/AIDS in their daily
lives. Most of the time it is very difficult for people living with HIV/AIDS
to accept the reality of dealing with HIV/AIDS for the rest of their life.
These NGOs take a strong role in giving support and motivational encouragement,
counseling and furthermore ask people living with HIV/AIDS to become involved
and working members of their NGOs.
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Pak Mangku pays serious attention to
today's teenage lifestyle. In meetings with youth communities he encourages
the development of healthy attitudes about HIV AIDS and asks people to
keep a caring and social spirit for others. By getting the correct information
young people can learn more about drugs and healthy, safe sexual relationships.
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As Pak Mangku says, "HIV/AIDS
has become a big threat as an estimated 3000 people in Bali are now
living with HIV/AIDS. They need continued treatment, care and support.
Unfortunately there is still a perception that HIV/AIDS is not serious
and should not be prioritised like malaria or tuberculosis. Indeed,
it's a very serious problem and if we don't act now we are facing
the potential 'loss of a generation' in the near future. Secondly,
there is always the stigma and discrimination which occurs towards
people living with HIV/AIDS. This is not right because HIV/AIDS is
not contagious by shaking hands, hugging, sharing a cup or even kissing.
As long as people do not share needles with others - this is especially
for injecting drug users - or have sexual intercourse without condoms,
they will be fine. We will continue working together, hand in hand
with the entire community and extending all possible approaches to
stop the spread of HIV/AIDS." |
For further information please contact:
Dr. Mangku Karmaya or, Mercya
Soesanto
Head of Information & Public Relations Provincial Media Relations
Officer
M: 0811 387 105 M: 0812 384 7964
mkarmaya@yahoo.com
E:mercya@indo.net.id |
KPAD Office
Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS Daerah
Jl. Melati 21 Denpasar
Ph : 0361 – 228723
Fax: 0361 - 228723 |
| Many
organizations, NGOs and people are working in the area of HIV AIDS
in Indonesia. Brad Otto is an old friend of KGRE. He works with
AusAID's Indonesia HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project Phase 2
(IHPCP) but he also works for Macfarlane Burnet in Melbourne.
Here is just a little of his work - more later in the year. |
Burnet
Indonesia trains 8 new HIV Counsellors for Bali
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Yayasan Burnet Indonesia, Indonesia’s
office of the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and
Public Health of Melbourne, has just completed a third round of
training for HIV counselors in Bali. This 3rd round trained
eight new counsellors from five local NGOs who provide outreach
and support services to people at risk for HIV. The training also
included participants from two local prisons, and the methadone
clinic at Sanglah hospital. Burnet Indonesia has now trained a total
of 30 HIV counsellors in Bali, under a grant from the Australian
government through the AusAID NGO Cooperation Program.
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The counsellors work mostly with hard-to-reach groups
who are most at risk for HIV, like drug users, sex workers and their clients,
and men who have sex with men and transvestites. Prisons have increasing
numbers of people from these groups, so prison staff are also now learning
how to provide better services to the inmates by supporting HIV prevention
activities. Kerobokan Prison is the first prison in Indonesia to offer
counselling and HIV testing to inmates.
Burnet is continuing its counselling training program
in Bali and will soon be training counsellors other areas as well, such
as South Sulawesi, West Java and NTB.
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