Malang, MC – Malang City continues to strengthen its readiness to support the national commitment to the global agenda of Ending AIDS 2030 through the achievement of Three Zeros, namely reducing new HIV infections, reducing deaths caused by AIDS and eliminating stigma and discrimination caused by HIV AIDS.
The strategic issue was an important discussion in the Regional Working Meeting (Rakerda) of the AIDS Control Commission (KPA) at the Atria Hotel, Malang City, Monday (1/12/2021). The event was held to commemorate World AIDS Day.
Deputy Mayor of Malang Ir. H. Sofyan Edi Jarwoko emphasized that pursuing the target of controlling HIV/AIDS in the next 10 years will only be successful if every stakeholder in Malang City works together to identify and resolve every problem from its roots. "This is not just about the responsibility of the Malang City Health Office (Dinkes), but all of us," said Sofyan Edi Jarwoko, who is usually called Bung Edi.
Furthermore, said Bung Edi, KPA Rakerda participants should strengthen collaboration and utilize dialogue as a space to translate more realistically the four key messages of World AIDS Day 2021. The four messages are strengthening commitment, expanding access to services, strengthening partnerships, and program innovation. The four messages are the breath of the national commemoration theme 'End AIDS: Prevent HIV, Access for All.'
"I hope that strengthening the clinical service side must be accompanied by reducing the negative stigma against sufferers that has already been present in the minds of some members of society. This can only be done with proper and systemic education," added Bung Edi.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Malang City Health Office, Dr. Husnul Muarif, reported that the Malang City Government (Pemkot) has stipulated the Malang Mayor's Decree Number: 188.45/339/35.73.112/2019 concerning the Establishment of the AIDS Commission, the KPA Secretariat and the Malang City KPA Working Group, as a collaborative institutional forum for implementing AIDS control strategies in Malang City.
"KPA and its three working groups (pokja) will promote the Suluh, menemukan, mengobati, dan Pertahankan (STOP) strategy," explained Dr. Husnul.
dr. Husnul explained that vigilance against HIV/AIDS transmission continues to be maintained even though statistically the findings of cases show a downward trend. In 2019, 573 cases were found, in 2020 the number decreased to 432 cases. Where only 31 of them have a Malang City ID card (KTP). In 2021, as of the October report, the number dropped again to 238 cases.
"In terms of health facility readiness, I ensure that there are 16 health centers and six hospitals that are ready to provide medical treatment, counseling, and rapid diagnosis tests (RDT) to HIV AIDS patients," added Dr. Husnul.
The KPA Rakerda was attended by representatives of various regional apparatuses, sub-districts, urban villages, health centers, hospitals, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the Paramitra Foundation, Wamarapa, IGAMA, KDS Netral Plus, the Positive Indonesia Network, and HIV/AIDS activists in Malang City.
"A number of collaborative proposals emerged from discussions in the KPA Rakerda, including expanding outreach, mentoring and referrals, hotspot mapping, education integration through the Ministry of Religion's Kampung Sakinah program, premarital guidance, facilitating socialization to break the negative stigma in each sub-district, massive HIV/AIDS awareness week campaign via social media, to empowering HIV/AIDS patients," he concluded. (ndu/ram)
