TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) remain as the number one killers by infection in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that almost 1.2 million people died from HIV/AIDS in 2014.
The virus and disease infects people from different ages, including teenagers. The United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) mentioned that 2 million teenagers are living with HIV. The number continues to increase as 26 teenagers between 10 to 19 years old are suspected to be infected with HIV/AIDS every hour.
Indonesia, along with South Africa, India, and Nigeria, are among the six countries that recorded the highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection on teenagers. It is estimated that every week, around 200 teenage girls and 150 teenage boys are infected with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia.
Mohamad Subuh, Director General of Disease Control and Healthy Environment of the Health Ministry stated that 2,089 out of the total 68,917 cases of HIV/AIDS infection occur on teenagers. "Most teenagers were infected by HIV/AIDS from the use of unsterilized syringe when they use drugs," Subuh said on Sunday, November 29, 2015.
NUR ALFIYAH