High HIV Cases, Bengkulu Health Offices Take Tests At Localization And Night Entertainment Places

Head of the Pharmacy, Medical Devices and Service Sector Section and SDK of the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office Sumaryadi when showing the availability of HIV/AIDS/Photo VIA BETWEEN

BENGKULU - The Bengkulu Provincial Health Office in 2023 conducts Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS tests in special locations such as localization, correctional institutions and nightclubs to suppress the spread of the virus. "To avoid an increase in HIV cases in Bengkulu, we continue to conduct inspections in special places such as localization and others," said Acting Head of Disease Control and Eradication (P2P) of the Bengkulu Provincial Health Office, Meli Puspasari in Bengkulu, Antara, Monday, January 30. This is done because people with HIV/AIDS in Bengkulu Province on average attack several groups such as housewives (IRT) who use narcotics, psychotropic substances and dangerous drugs (napza), transvestites and commercial sex work. Meli said that the high number of HIV cases in Bengkulu was due to the pattern of association of young people who were free and did not use safety during sexual intercourse. From January to December 2022, his party found 142 cases of HIV/AIDS in five areas in Bengkulu Province and 14 people who died from HIV. "Throughout 2022, we recorded 142 cases of HIV that were found and 14 people died because they were treated late," he said. For HIV cases, those who died were caused by patients not having a health check, resulting in complications and late treatment. According to Meli, the five areas where HIV cases were found were 108 cases in Bengkulu City, two cases in South Bengkulu Regency, three cases in North Regency. Then in Kepahiang Regency there were around four cases and Rejang Lebong Regency there were 23 cases, while for cases that died came from Bengkulu City, namely six cases and Rejang Lebong Regency, eight cases. Meli appealed to people infected with HIV and AIDS to not close and limit themselves and be able to socialize like the general public. This is done so that people who are infected get medical treatment as early as possible from health workers. As well as getting ARV medicine provided by the Ministry of Health provided free of charge for patients to suppress HIV/AIDS virus in Indonesia, including in Bengkulu Province.