TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - Head of the Tangerang Disease Eradication Agency, Manik Kusmayoni, said that 143 people or around 33 percent of 474 commercial sex workers in Dadap Red Light District, Kosambi, were diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Manik said that the total HIV/AIDS infected people in Kosambi had reached 46 people.
"The agency discovered three new cases on October," she told Tempo.
Dadap is the biggest and oldest red light district in Tangerang, with some of its sex workers are originated from out town.
The Tangerang Health Agency noted that there are in total of 626 prostitutes in several red light districts in Jayanti, Balaraja, and Sukadiri. Manik added that some of the sex workers are still underage, "ranging from 12 to 15 years old."
JONIANSYAH