South Sulawesi Enters 10 Provinces With The Most HIV Cases In Indonesia

HIV Illustration

SOUTH Sulawesi is included in the list of 10 provinces in Indonesia with the most HIV cases found. The information was reported by the South Sulawesi Provincial Health Office recently.

Apart from South Sulawesi, other provinces that are also on the top list are West Java, East Java, DKI Jakarta, Central Java, Papua, North Sumatra, Bali, Banten, and East Kalimantan.

"Of course this is a concern and threat so it is necessary for our joint commitment to reduce the spread by conducting socialization and prevention," said Head of the South Sulawesi Health Office, Muh Ishaq Iskandar, quoted from Antara in Makassar, Saturday.

Cumulatively, the findings of HIV cases in the area were 19,033 people. Meanwhile, the findings of cases reported through the HIV/AID Information System (SIHA) 2.1 in January - March 2024 were 122 cases.

The distribution of cases is based on the most areas, namely in Makassar City, Palopo City, Parepare City, Gowa Regency, Bone Regency, Jeneponto Regency, North Toraja Regency, Bulukumba Regency, Maros Regency and Sidrap Regency.

Based on risk factors, said Ishaq, is through sexual intercourse. The most cases in male sex groups (NGOs), followed by high risk couples, transvestites, and tuberculosis or tuberculosis patients.

According to him, there is no term HIV sent from outside the region. However, HIV cases found in South Sulawesi and city districts are not all natives of the area.

"That's because residents outside or who have electronic ID cards outside the region come to check themselves into health services here, so we are still being served. And if the results are positive, then it is recorded as finding cases in South Sulawesi," he said.

Meanwhile, the steps or efforts taken by the Health Office by conducting socialization about the dangers of HIV. Then increase and provide HIV testing and handling or treatment services for HIV in 24 regencies and cities.

Furthermore, increasing preventive efforts such as using condoms for groups at high risk, providing sterile syringe services, developing the Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP) program, which is a preventive drug for infection transmission for people who are at high risk of contracting HIV.

"Strengthening the notification of the ODHIV pair or tracing the HIV case on ODHIV sex couples, friends sharing needles and ODHIV's biological children for efforts to find cases as well as education for those who are negative to maintain," he said.