Hundreds of people from NGOs and HIV/AIDS care groups in Yogyakarta, Tuesday, demonstrated against discrimination toward HIV/AIDS positive people. They judge the society is still biased for this matter.According to the demonstrators HIV/AIDS is just like any other disease and those who suffer from it shouldn’t be isolated. This disease can infect anyone, including good house-wives and their children. Discrimination doesn’t solve the problem, instead it would oppress the HIV/AIDS positive people.
“Why is there discrimination? Because people are ingrained with a stereotype that the disease is caused by pervert behaviors done by ‘bad’ people,” said Istikomah from the Yogyakarta Institution for Female Rights, one of the NGOs involved in the act.
In Surabaya, the Deputy Governor of East Java, Saifulla Yusuf said that most people with AIDS in East Java were infected by shared needles used by drug abusers. Many of the victims are in the productive age group.During his visit to AIDS patients at the Dr. Soetomo Public Hospital in Surabaya, Saifulla Yusuf states that fighting drug abuse is the priority. “The provincial government provides Rp. 10 billion to prevent transmission by needles.”
The East Java provincial government has recorded that 42 percent of HIV/AIDS infected people are in the productive age group, which is from 20 to 29 years old. This impairs their productivity.Aside from that, some people still shun HIV/AIDS positive people. The result is that someone with AIDS is unlikely to work. “They are capable, but hindered by their stigma,” said the deputy governor.
The East Java provincial government also encourages hospitals in the city and regency to care for HIV/AIDS patients. This is to bring together the patients and medical centers. “Currently the life span of a victim can be prolonged with proper medications. AIDS isn’t the direct cause of death, instead it’s another disease that comes because the victim’s immunity has weakened.”
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Approximately 100 HIV/AIDS care activists in Malang, East Java, demand that HIV/AIDS positive people be redeemed of their negative stigma and be given equal social access.”Many people with HIV/AIDS have died because they didn’t have social access or were isolated and discriminated in everything. Though their physical conditions were maintained by medications, but if their mental conditions were oppressed by all the isolation and discrimination, then the medications are futile,” said the head of Malang Transvestite Association, Merlyn Shopjan, during the AIDS Day commemoration in front of the Malang City Hall.
The AIDS Day commemoration is also done in other cities such as Solo, Tegal, Banyumas, Bandung, and Jakarta.
Santosamaru 