TEMPO.CO, Kupang - From 1997 to August 2013, the province of East Nusa Tenggara has seen 2,351 cases of HIV and AIDS. The province's first HIV/AIDS patient was from East Flores.
“The number of deaths has reached 493,” said Secretary of the East Nusa Tenggara National AIDS Commission (KPA), Husein Pankratius, in Kupang, Wednesday.
The highest number of cases is found in men with 1,456 patients, followed by housewives with 457. “The rest are farmers, the unemployed, unskilled labors, sex workers, drivers, motorcycle taxi drives, civil servants and Indonesian migrant workers,” Husein said.
In terms of age, the largest number is found in the productive age of 25-30 years old. Sadly there are 102 children below five years old infected with HIV/AIDS in the province.
Director of Infectious Disease Control at the Health Ministry, Slamet, said the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS in East Nusa Tenggara is being monitored by the central government. In addition to increasing the frequency of counseling, the government has invited NGOs to increase the locals' awareness of unprotected sex. East Nusa Tenggara currently ranks at number 15 on the number of people with HIV/AIDS.
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