3 Aug 2009

Need for more HIV/Aids centres in Indonesian Province of Papua

6:18 am on 3 August 2009

Indonesia's Health Ministry says it lacks the funding to establish sufficient services for the growing number of people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in the province of Papua.

According to the Ministry, there are currently 154 HIV/AIDS treatment centres and 528 counselling and testing centres in the nation.

The Jakarta Post, says the problem is exacerbated by dispersion: 40 of the centres are in Jakarta, but Papua, which has the largest population of people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, has just four.

The Health Ministry says in 2007 the Ministry planned to build a total of 235 treatment units, but a lack of funding and difficulties in building in areas with poor infrastructure have hampered their efforts.

It says it hopes to build at least one treatment centre in each regency.