World AIDS Day, IDI Advises Indonesia To Hold A National HIV Test Day

Illustration of HIV/AIDS (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) encourages the government to hold a National HIV Test Day which is officially scheduled in the country's calendar.

Member of the Advisory Council of PB IDI Zubairi Djoerban, said the recommendation was based on the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases, and the decreasing number of people who tested the sexually transmitted disease.

"The main obstacle since the COVID-19 pandemic is the decline in the number of people who have tested HIV, and the number of cases also continues to increase. So, PB ID recommends that there be a National HIV Test Day, so there is convenience, there is no need for trouble for tests," said Zubairi in his statement, Friday, December 1.

Furthermore, HIV tests on every pregnant woman, according to Zubairi, are mandatory. Until now, only 55 percent of pregnant women in Indonesia have tested HIV. Of those who tested positive, only 24 percent have been treated.

He said HIV cases in children increased by 700 to 1,000 cases each year, and the majority contracted by mothers.

He gave an example, in various countries such as in several states of America and Asia, they have been able to cut cases of HIV transmission in infants, thanks to routine and massive HIV tests.

The number of HIV transmission in babies is still very, very sad, while from the example of other countries the cases can be zero. So if all pregnant women are tested for HIV and those who are positive immediately take medicine, God willing, we can cut the transmission from pregnant women to their babies," Zubairi explained.

In addition, negative discrimination and stigma against People With HIV/AIDS (ODHA) in Indonesia also need to be overcome, through consistent and continuous education and socialization.

In fact, he said, there were several cases of a child with HIV being forced to leave school due to his illness.

"So once again, all pregnant women must have a HIV test, we need to agree on this national day, we need to socialize it, to eradicate this case." said Zubairi.