The number of AIDS patients in the province in 2009 has increased from last year.
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(Dok. Pribadi) |
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VIVAnews - Thirteen infants in the province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) are suffering from AIDS. Two of the patients are 15 and 7 month-old babies. The infants with the initial of RA and WD are reportedly coming from Mataram and West Lombok.
Both were detected infected with HIV virus while being nursed at NTB Public Hospital for malnutrition. The results of the VCT tests showed the babies are catching the virus.
NTB AIDS Control Commission declares the number of AIDS patients in the province in 2009 has increased from last year.
In 2008, there were 137 HIV patients while this year, the patients are up to 163 people. Meanwhile, AIDS cases, which were experienced by 83 patients in 2008, occurred to 115 patients this year.
The Head of NTB AIDS Control Commission Secretariat Muchtar said the biggest HIV/ AIDS cases were found in Mataram with 71 HIV patients and 56 AIDS cases.
“Generally, HIV/ AIDS patients in NTB were infected because they were homosexuals or being shot by infected shrinks. The rise in numbers of HIV/ AIDS patients was caused by people’s awareness to check themselves,” Muchtar said to the reporters in Mataram on Thursday, November 26.
HIV/ AIDS cases are also being dealt by people in every level of society. The fatal disease is also suffered by 6 convicts, 12 workers, 100 private employees, 35 housewives, 12 public and honorary employees, 6 tourism workers, 7 students, 24 prostitutes, 7 workers, 3 military and police officers, 7 farmers, 5 drivers, 1 artist, 1 fisherman and 62 unemployed people. So far, out of 115 AIDS patients, 68 have died and 47 remain alive.
As an attempt to fight HIV/ AIDS, the Control Commission will establish a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) clinics in five hospitals on Sumbawa Island.
According to Muchtar, the clinics would be built as soon as possible following the increase in numbers of HIV patients in NTB.
“There haven’t been any VCT clinics on Sumbawa Island which makes it hard for us to detect HIV patients,” he said.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
• VIVAnews
