31 Puskesmas In Bandarlampung Opens Treatment Services For HIV Patients

Illustration. A mother queues for HIV tests at the Semen Health Center, Kediri, East Java, December 2021. (Between-Prayia F)

LAMPUNG - The Bandarlampung City Government (Pemkot) said that all puskesmas in Bandarlampung have opened services and treatments for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients.

"All puskesmas can. Yes, at 31 health centers, they can provide HIV services and treatment," said Head of the Bandarlampung City Health Office, Desti Mega Putri, in Bandarlampung, Thursday, February 16, as reported by Antara.

He also said that each puskesmas is also equipped with a tool to check or a HIV rapid diagnostic test (RDT), so that people can come to check their health at the nearest health service center.

"In fact, we have also prepared a budget to buy back the HIV RDT this year," he said.

He revealed that the funds prepared for handling HIV in this city amounted to more than Rp. 1 billion which was intended to buy HIV RDT which would be distributed to 31 health centers.

"Later, we will distribute this HIV test kit to health centers in this city, for people who want to check their health whether they have contracted this virus (HIV) or not," he said.

Meanwhile, he continued, for the anti retro viral drug (ARV) that functions to inhibit the growth of HIV virus cells in the body, the Bandarlampung Health Office always coordinates with the Lampung Provincial Government regarding its availability.

"If there is an ARV, just ask the province. Later it will be given according to the number of existing cases, for now the availability is still sufficient," he said.

Based on coordination data from the Lampung HIV activist consortium, HIV cases in Bandar Lampung City reached 2,637 people by 2022, this number is 44 percent of the total HIV cases in Lampung which reached 6,022 cases.