Manokwari Health Office Proposes 8 Health Centers To Become HIV PDPs

Head of the Prevention and Control Section of Infectious Diseases (P2PM) of the Manokwari Health Office, Rahimi when met at the Manokwari Health Office, Friday. (ANTARA/Ali Nur Ichsan)

MANOKWARI - The Health Office of Manokwari Regency, West Papua has proposed eight health centers to become health facilities (faskes) that can provide care, support and treatment services (PDP) for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients. Head of the Prevention and Control Section of Infectious Diseases (P2PM) of the Manokwari Health Office, Rahimi, said the eight proposed health centers were Sanggeng, Wosi, Sowi, Maripi, SP4, Amban, Pasir Putih and SP7 Health Centers. "This month we will hold a meeting with the Indonesian Ministry of Health to propose eight health centers to become health facilities that can PDP HIV," said Rahimi in Manokwari, Antara, Friday, July 21. Rahimi explained, with the PDP puskesmas, the public can carry out examinations as well as HIV treatment. The health center no longer needs to refer HIV patients to the hospital. "Unless the patient has drug allergy complications or needs more difficult medical treatment, it's just been referred to the hospital," said Rahimi. He revealed that the proposal of the eight health centers was an effort by the government to examine and record HIV patients in Manokwari, as well as to supervise patients who took anti-corruption drugs (ARV). “ Currently, there are 745 people with HIV in Manokwari. Of that number, 60 percent consume ARV, ” he explained. “ Because now everyone must check for HIV, such as pregnant women must be examined. In the past, we were still offering whether or not to check for HIV. But now it's no longer, if you don't want to make a statement. Members of the TNI-Polri who served in Manokwari must also be examined,” he explained. Rahimi said the Indonesian Ministry of Health is targeting the Manokwari Regency Government to conduct HIV checks on 8,000 people this year. From this target, the Manokwari Health Office has examined 4,480 people. “ We are currently intensively conducting examinations into private and university agencies. Our agenda in August will conduct HIV examinations at the University of Papua (Unipa) with a target of 1,000 people,” said Rahimi. He added that the examination was carried out so that the government detected HIV as early as possible. So that further assistance steps can be taken.

"Starting yesterday (Thursday-ed) until today we have done counselor training for the dynamics of hospitals and 15 health facilities in Manokwari,” he added.