Case Of Discrimination Of AIDS Patients In West Jakarta, KPA Hopes Not To Repeat

Illustration of the spread of HIV and AIDS, one of which is prevention with education. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - The West Jakarta AIDS Management Commission (KPA) asked residents not to discriminate against sufferers or people with HIV/AIDS (ODHA) following the findings of such cases in East Cengkareng and Duri Kepa, West Jakarta.

"There are cases of ODHA in East Cengkareng and Duri Kepa wanting to be expelled by his family," said Secretary of the West Jakarta City KPA, Soekarno in a workshop entitled "Building Partnerships in Financing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/ AIDS) at the West Jakarta Mayor's Office, Tuesday, October 31, confiscated by Antara.

Sukarno explained the case in Duri Kepa, the family of the person who wanted to expel him. However, after KPA coordinated with the health office, sub-district head, and village head, the action was prevented.

"We took the patient to the puskesmas for further medical examinations. However, because his condition had increased from HIV to AIDS, he could not be helped when he was going to Tarakan Hospital," he said.

Furthermore, Soekarno said that in the world of work, ODHA is also often ostracized by his co-workers.

"For this reason, we always coordinate with the Health Sub-dept. and the Manpower and Transmigration Sub-dept. (Nakertrans) to handle ODHA in the workplace," said Soekarno.

Soekarno is optimistic that the zero target of HIV/ AIDS cases by 2030 can be achieved.

"We are targeting 2030 zero (no) new HIV infections, zero deaths from AIDS, and zero discrimination," he said.

Meanwhile, West Jakarta Assistant for Administrative and People's Welfare (Adkesra), Amien Haji said that based on Regional Regulation No.5 of 2008 concerning HIV/AIDS prevention, KPA has the task of coordinating and evaluating all HIV/ AIDS prevention activities.

In the regulation, said Amien, West Jakarta KPA was asked to continue to coordinate and collaborate with Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) and other partners, such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Caring for AIDS, AIDS Care Families, and so on.

"So it is hoped that later it can encourage the achievement of the end of AIDS by 2030," said Amien.

It is known that 351 residents in West Jakarta were declared infected with HIV during January to July 2022. Of the eight sub-districts, Kalideres and Cengkareng contributed 40 percent of HIV cases in West Jakarta.