New US-funded HIV/AIDS prevention program begins

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 04/01/2010 2:26 PM | National

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Thursday launched a new five year HIV/AIDS prevention program in Indonesia.

Reduction of HIV/AIDS Funding to Indonesia

Two days ago I read news on HIV/AIDS Funding to Indonesia. I think we all should take serious attention on fund reduction to fight HIV/AIDS because it will affect the program to reduce and prevent the spread HIV/AIDS infection among our people. Especially in Papua and West Papua, the spread of infections already enter general population. In this case, it is an obligation for all element of Papuan to fight HIV/AIDS.

Reference : Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report

Global Challenges | International Donors Expected To Reduce HIV/AIDS Funding to Indonesia, Officials Say
[Mar 13, 2008]

International donors are expected to “drastically” reduce their contributions to HIV/AIDS programs in Indonesia in part because donors now consider the country to be a middle-income nation, Indonesian Welfare Minister Aburizal Barkie said Wednesday, Reuters reports. Foreign aid currently accounts for 70% of the funds for HIV/AIDS services in the country.

AIDS Battle in Papua

One of the most critical problem in Papua is health, especially the the spread of HIV/AIDS to the population, particularly among prostitutes and their users. Special attention should be taken seriously as the disease has started to spread from prostitutes to housewives, raising fears of an African-style epidemic. Papua’s number of cases per 100,000 people is nearly 20 times the national average, according to a government study published in 2007.Health experts say the disease has been spreading rapidly due to several factors — high rates of promiscuity, rituals in some Papuan tribes where partner swapping takes place, poor education about AIDS and lack of condoms.

Here is the source of the news: ANTARA and Reuters

West Papua: Special Treatment

A very interesting article by Erica Vowles on Papua Issue….

West Papua: Special Treatment
By: Erica Vowles
Wednesday 22 August 2007
The rights and revenue that were supposed to flow from West Papua’s Special Autonomy Law — implemented by the Indonesian Government in 2001 — are yet to transpire for the majority of West Papuans, according to delegates at a conference in Sydney last week.