HIV/AIDS Cases Among Teenagers Increase, Puan Asks The Government To Strengthen Education And Protection Of The Young Generation

ILLUSTRATION OF DOK VOI

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, highlighted the surge in HIV/AIDS cases that ensnared students and students in Majalengka Regency, West Java.

According to him, increasing cases of HIV/AIDS among teenagers is a danger signal for the future of the nation's young generation that the government must respond to.

The phenomenon of increasing HIV/AIDS cases among adolescents and young people is certainly a concern for us together. This must be a warning for policy makers to improve reproductive education programs, especially to protect our young generation," said Puan, Friday, May 23.

Based on the latest data from the Majalengka District Health Office (Dinkes), the total number of HIV/AIDS sufferers penetrated the area to 2,000 people. A total of 822 cases of which ensnared students and students.

With the number of more than 800 young people infected in Majalengka, Puan assessed that the spread of HIV/AIDS among teenagers was already at an emergency level.

This is a matter of the nation's future which is slowly eroding due to a lack of protection for them. These children should be learning, dreaming, growing strong. But today they are struggling to survive," he said.

Puan reminded that the State has a responsibility to provide a safe space for teenagers to ask questions, learn, and get correct information about their bodies. This includes the risks of sexual health and the dangers of drug abuse, which can also lead to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

"Sexual education is still considered taboo, even though openness can actually save lives. Not to mention the problem of drug abuse which is also still homework (PR) in Indonesia," said Puan.

Puan also said that the government could no longer rely solely on moral advice. "Children are afraid to talk, ashamed to seek treatment, or reluctant to check themselves. The government must dare to break the stigma chain and start talking about prevention, not just a prohibition. There must be a humanist approach that can build their trust," said Puan.

In addition, continued Puan, real, systematic, and inter-ministerial intervention is also needed to deal with this problem, starting from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, to the Ministry of Social Affairs. According to Puan, the handling of the surge in HIV/AIDS cases cannot only be overcome by local governments, but also needs central support.

"It takes a shared commitment to ensure that our children grow up in a good environment. This is a responsibility for the Government, the world of education, and the socio-cultural community. Of course also from their immediate environment, namely family," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Majalengka District Health Office launched an innovation of the PESAT LAJUR program (Collaboration for Realizing Youth Cares for HIV/AIDS Systematically) to reduce the number of HIV/AIDS cases. This program is collaborated with schools to the local Scout Kwarcab. The purpose of the program is to provide socialization and education about HIV/AIDS among students.

Puan said that the protection of the younger generation from the spread of HIV/AIDS must be used as a national agenda. Because each region must also face the same challenges.

"We want young people as the next generation of the nation to have a good future guarantee. This must be ensured by the State with the facilities needed by them, including health protection," said Puan.

Puan also encouraged the birth of cross-sectoral national programs for the protection of adolescent health, such as routine screening in schools, psychological assistance, and safe and non-judicial counseling services.

"We cannot continue to let our children grow up in confusion, fear, and without protection. They are a generation that will replace us. If we ignore today, tomorrow all we will inherit is wounds," he said.