Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

HIV/Aids awareness drive in Indonesian province of Papua

Posted at 17:45 on 10 February, 2008 UTC

The AIDS Prevention Commission in Indonesia’s Papua Province is running a Papua condom week to combat the sharp rise in HIV/AIDS cases there.

The campaign, which ends this weekend, aims to provide HIV/AIDS education.

The main message is to practice safe sex in order to prevent sexually transmitted disease or STDs .

The level of HIV/AIDS infection in Papua rapidly rose during 2007.

Papua Health Institute recorded 1,964 positive HIV cases as well as 1,470 AIDS cases.

Of most concern is that the highest rate of infection occurs in the age group, 15-39 year olds.

The Papua Health Institute said this phenomenon is closely linked to a lack of community awareness of these issues.