Deputy Governor Riza Reminds The Role Of Mass Media And Social Media Activists To Help Tackle TB-HIV Cases

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ahmad Riza Patria, asked the public to increase awareness of the prevention, examination, and treatment of TB-HIV disease in the city of Jakarta.

This was conveyed by Riza in a coordination meeting involving mass media and social media in eliminating or reducing cases of TB-HIV (Tuberculosis in HIV sufferers) in Jakarta which was held by the AIDS Commission (KPA) of DKI Jakarta Province.

"The HIV AIDS response must continue to be carried out comprehensively through promotive, preventive, diagnostic, curative, and rehabilitative services", Riza said in an online meeting, Tuesday, April 26.

Riza explained that in the DKI Jakarta HIV Fast Track cascade until December 2021, the Health Service reported that there were 65,916 people with HIV positive and 72,638 people with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Of these, 28,629 people are still under treatment or on ARV (antiretroviral drugs), and 21,952 people have achieved suppressed viral load.

From January to June 2021, as many as 60 percent of TB sufferers know that they are also infected with HIV.

As is known, TB (Tuberculosis) is the most common opportunistic infection (IO) suffered by PLWHA and at the same time the most cause of death in PLWHA.

Therefore, Riza invites the mass media and social media activists to play an active role in eliminating TB-HIV cases in the city of Jakarta.

With the information disseminated through the media, it is hoped that the public will have a better understanding of how to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, as well as the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.

"It is undeniable that the media plays a big and important role in influencing accurate and reliable public opinion and mindset. The media here, of course, is not just print, electronic, and social media in the conventional sense", said Riza.

"What we also need to pay special attention to is the position of the media as a person or public/citizen. The cool term is an influencer. This is something that must also get serious attention to be invited to collaborate to produce creative content that can help our efforts to eliminate TB-HIV cases", he added.