HIV/AIDS Cases in Subang Up
Friday, 18 April, 2008 | 18:50 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Subang: There has been a dramatic increase in the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Subang, West Java.

According to the records of the NGO Caring for AIDS in Subang, some 86 people were reported to have AIDS in the early part of 2008 but this figure increased to more than 200 in April.

“It could be more than that as many of them do not report,” said Suhaerudin, head of the NGO, yesterday (17/4).

Suhaerudin said that the increase was due to low work performance of National AIDS commission in Subang even though all existing government agencies, including the Department of Religious Affairs, are involved in the commission that is led by regent Eep Hidayat.

Suhaerudin said initially the survey indicated that the only people with HIV/AIDS in Subang were those who worked as prostitutes in the Pantura area.

The Subang Health office did not deny the data presented by Suhaerudin.

According to Alma Suciati, head of the regency’s health office, the number of people with HIV/AIDS had increased to 186 people by the end of 2007.

A further 16 cases were recorded between January and March this year.

“The total is 202 people,” he said.

There are 3,121 people with HIV/AIDS in all West Java, including 1,578 people with AIDS.

Nanang Sutisna l Rana Akbari Fitriawan