Mimika allocates Rp1.5 billion for HIV/AIDS program

Timika, Papua (ANTARA News) - The local government of Mimika district, Papua, has allocated Rp1.5 billion for HIV/AIDS handling program in the region, an AIDS Commission official said.



Chief National AIDS Commission (PPA) for Mimika Erens Meokbun said here on Thursday that the AIDS handling program in Mimika was still focused guidance, officials` training, inventory of new cases and counseling of HIV/AIDS carriers.



He said that the HIV/AIDS allocation for the HIV/AIDS handling in Mimika this year was down if compared with previous years` allocations which reached about Rp3 billions.



"In the previous three years, the funds allocation for HIV/AIDS handling in Mimika amounted to Rp3 billion each year," he said.



The number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Mimika is the highest one among those in other districts in Papua province.



He said that the high cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Mimika was among other things fueled by the flow of migration into the district from neighboring districts and rural areas in Papua.



Data at Mimika KPA office indicated that up to December 2010, the number of HIV/AIDS sufferers was recorded at 2,463 cases, of whom 1,262 men and 1,195 weer female carriers.



In 2010, there were additional 407 HIV/AIDS cases, of whom nine have died.

(Uu.A014/HAJM)