Government Should Prioritize AIDS in Papua
Thursday, 13 March, 2008 | 12:49 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari has said that the Government should prioritize for HIV and AIDS eradication in Papua.

“Geographically, Papua is difficult. But there should be a system that can cover all of the people there”, said Siti on her speech for Workshop on National Planning and Organizing for HIV and AIDS eradication at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) office yesterday.

The workshop was attended by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, Bapepam Head Paskah Suzettaand Secretary of the National AIDS Commission Nafsiah Mboi, as well as representatives from the Home Affairs and Finance ministries, plus representatives from 33 provinces.

The Health Minister said that she has been preparing the setting up of a mobile clinic, complete with specialist physicians, nurses, and health equipment needed for Papua.

This mobile clinic will carry out tests on residents to detect HIV as well as contagious diseases like Malaria and Tuberculosis.

They deserve this privilege because health access in Papua has been limited.

If the clinic does detect a disease, then the infected patient will be taken to a city center for follow-up treatment.

This program does not need to depend on international loans, said Siti.

“It just needs concern from everyone, including central and regional governments, as well as from members of the general public.

The funding of Rp664 billion for this clinic, said Siti said, is still withinthe capability of the state on by through de-concentration and special allocation funds, as well as the Global Fund that is used to help for treatment of AIDS, Tuberculoses, and Malaria.

Minister Aburizal acknowledged that 70% of state expenses on HIV/AIDS treatment comes from international aid.
In 2007, he said, government budgeted Rp240 billion for AIDS from the Health Department, Rp19 billion from regional funds (cities/regencies), Rp57 billion from provincial funds and Rp5.9 billion from the AIDS Eradication Commission.

Because of this, Aburizal, who is also Head of the National AIDS Eradication Commission, is targeting R1 trillion for AIDS eradication in 2008.
These funds will be allocated for eradication expenses, treatment socialization, and treatment for 193,000 people with HIV/AIDS.

Central and regional governments, said Aburizal, can share the expense of this program.

REH ATEMALEM SUSANTI | IQBAL MUHTAROM