Street Children In Solo Are Vulnerable To Sexual Infectious Diseases, Some Are Detected Exposure To HIV And Syphilis

Head Of The Dermatology And Venereology Group Research Team For Sexually Infectious Infection Profiles In Street Children In Surakarta Dr Prasetyadi Mawardi Sp.KK(K) (center)/ANTARA/Aris Wasita

SOLO - A number of street people in Solo, Central Java have tested positive for sexually transmitted infections (IMS) after an initial examination or screening conducted by the Indonesian Association of Skin and Gender Specialists (PERDOSKI) together with UNS through a community service program.

Head of the Dermatology and Venereology Group Research Team for Sexually Infectious Infection Profiles on Street Children in Surakarta, Dr. Prasetyadi Mawardi Sp.KK(K), said that his party had conducted counseling, education, and screening for examinations of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/Aids.

"We have examined about 30 street children and people with social disabilities. The age range is from 15-51 years," said the Head of the Sexually Infectious Subdivision of the Dr Moewardi Hospital Surakarta, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.

Prasetyadi said that from the examination, which began with the approval of each person, it was obtained that five people were infected with sexually transmitted diseases.

"There were five people, one of whom was exposed to reactive HIV and four people were exposed to syphilic diseases," he said.

Regarding these results, Prasetyadi asked the five people to conduct further examinations of the nearest health care facility. It also recommends re-examination for one person with the results of HIV/Aids reactive results.

"We recommend re-examination, but actually the level of rapid test sensitivity that we use results is above 80 percent," he said.

Seeing these results, in the future it is necessary to provide adequate education and assistance so that these children receive adequate treatment.

"These people are also expected to have sexual intercourse in a healthy manner. An adequate treatment is needed so that there are no complications in the future. It is hoped that it will not be enough with treatment but also break the chain (spreading the disease, Red.)," he said.

He also hopes that in the future similar examinations can be carried out with more targets and involve funding from many parties.

"Frankly, this requires follow-up, in the future it may involve various parties. Laboratory examinations for syphilics, HIV are not cheap. Unfortunately we have not involved many parties, hopefully (by involving many parties, Red.) will cover more targets," he said.