Ambon Health Office Records 145 New Cases Of HIV/AIDS In 2023

HIV/AIDS Counseling at the Hutumuri Health Center in Ambon City. (ANTARA/ho-Puskesmas Hutumuri)

AMBON - The Ambon City Health Office (Dinkes) recorded that during January to May 2023 there were 145 new cases of HIV/AIDS. "The number of new HIV/AIDS cases reached 145 cases, bringing the cumulative number of HIV cases to 2,284 cases, while AIDS was recorded at around 992 cases, which were dominated by male groups," said Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ambon City Health Office, Remes Talle in Ambon, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, June 13. HIV/AIDS cases experience an increase every year, in 2021 there are 116 cases, and an increase in 2022 is 290 cases. "The increase in the number of cases was due to routine officers tracking and examining so that new cases were obtained in 2023," he said. He admitted that the increase in HIV and AIDS cases was influenced by deviant sexual behavior Among them, changing partners and having sex through rectum/anus without using condoms, even transmission from pregnant women to the fetus through the placenta. "We are concerned with HIV transmission because sexual behavior tends to change partners, especially the same sex LSL and it is proven from the data that the number of cases has increased," he said. Rems stated that his party in 2021 did not intensely track and examine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2022 an examination was carried out so that there was an increase in the number of new cases. His party continues to socialize to the public and stakeholders regarding joint efforts to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS. The Health Office also makes prevention efforts such as conducting socialization to the public by utilizing health post services, as well as carrying out early detection, in order to reduce the number of transmission cases of HIV/AIDS. In addition, they have also prepared health workers in the field, namely conducting inspections, in order to detect that everyone infected with HIV/AIDS is immediately given maximum service, and socialization about the dangers of HIV/AIDS transmission.