Yogyakarta City Targets Zero HIV/AIDS By 2030

Illustration - Officers took the blood of residents who were examined during the HIV AIDS blood test, Jakarta. (ANTARA PHOTO/M Agung Rajasa/pri.)

JAKARTA - By 2030, the Yogyakarta City Government is committed to realizing three zero HIV/AIDS. This is the target of zero new HIV/AIDS infections, zero HIV/AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma-discrimination for HIV/AIDS sufferers in this region.

Acting Mayor of Yogyakarta Sugeng Purwanto in Yogyakarta said, from 2004 to 2024 the cumulative cases of HIV in the city of Yogyakarta had reached 1,675 people, while the cumulative AIDS cases were 329 people.

"However, for 2024 from January to September, the number of HIV cases was 92 cases and for AIDS cases increased by 14 cases," he said as quoted by Antara.

Sugeng realized that as a tourism city, Yogyakarta did not rule out being one of the main entrances to HIV/AIDS disease and sexually transmitted infections (IMS).

In an effort to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 2030, the Yogyakarta City Government also collaborated with the Indonesian Vesta Foundation by making a Joint Agreement on Population Prevention and Control at Risk of Infection with HIV/AIDS and IMS.

This joint commitment, said Sugeng, will be accelerated with the regional action plan (RAD) for 2023-2027 and through the fast route "95-95-95", namely, 95 percent of ODHA is aware of its status, 95 percent of ODHA is receiving treatment, and 95 percent of ODHA is taking medication regularly.

"Let's jointly press and encourage each individual to know his HIV status, by conducting HIV tests and immediately administer anti-corruption (ARV) treatment for ODHA," he said.

Sugeng hopes that the public will check HIV/AIDS, especially for risk groups, such as sex workers, transvestites, injecting drug users, prison inmates, pregnant women, and people who receive blood transfusions.

According to him, checks can be carried out at 18 health centers that have become referral facilities for HIV/AIDS people and 13 hospitals in the city of Yogyakarta.

Bahkan, lanjut Sugeng, lima puskesmas seperti Puskesmas Gedongtengen, Tegalrejo, Mergangsan, Umbulharjo I, dan Pakualaman telah melayani berbagai layanan terkait HIV, antara lain tes HIV, layanan Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PreP) untuk mencegah penularan HIV dan ARV (obat HIV).

"This service for ODHA at the puskesmas is free of charge. ODHA can take advantage of the service to check the number of HIV viruses through their blood, to take ARV drugs that function to control the virus which are also provided free of charge, and what is certain is that officers are friendly and not stigmatistic and discriminatory," he said.