Papua Remains at the Top of HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rate
Wednesday, 02 December, 2009 | 17:20 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The National AIDS Commission said Papua island still holds the highest HIV/AIDS rate of 2.4 percent compared to any other regions, which the commission blamed on extramarital sexual relations.

Constant Karma head of the commision's office in Papua Province told reporters on Wednesday (2/12) the number of people with HIV AIDS in Papua and West Papua Province as of March this year was 6,245. Papua province has 4,745 with HIV/AIDS while West Papua has 1,500.

Timika, the seat of Mimika Regency where the Freepot McMoran's gold mine complex lies, ranked number four among the cities with highest transmission rate after Bandung (West Java), Jakarta, and Denpasar.

Constant said over 90 percent of HIV/AIDS spreadings in the region were transmitted through sexual relations, with male sufferers become the main source of transmission.

CUNDING LEVI