Recognize
HIV / AIDS and Fight!
By: Dewanti Dadana *
It has been 26 years since HIV / AIDS first
came to public attention when conceived Indonesia in Jakarta, the news that
there have been patients who showed manifestations of AIDS (Julianto, 2002:
xi), and 6 years later entered in Papua with the results of 7 cases were later
enlarged after 7 years the number of cases to 246 cases, 160 cases of HIV and
86 cases of AIDS (Linggasari, 2008: 47). As for the Asmat region test new HIV /
AIDS conducted in 2007. Of the 200 test samples of blood, there is one who is
HIV positive. 3 years later the virus is grown from 1 person to 70 people. In
October 2012 found 10 cases of HIV in Asmat Regent, following five cases in
pregnant women.
Research
Linggasari et al (2009: 29) among others, states that the customs inherited
from their ancestors since time immemorial to put sex as a behaviour that is
sacred to the Asmat. Sexual relations are conducted lawfully married couples
will rise to power, freshness, vigour and courage. After having sex, the man
will be better able to Asmat headhunting activities. The rest, that sex is a behaviour to carry out the regeneration with the breed. In other words, it can be
mentioned that a legitimate sexual relationship will be a rewarding psychological
and biological. CES Manais a term in the Asmat to mention a healthy sexual
relationship. In the further development of sex not only positive consequences
- Ces Manais - but also due to negative - Namir Manawei -. Namir manawei will
emerge as a result of sexual intercourse outside marriage. These relationships
can even lead to the most fatal consequence, which is death, because the affair
could spark a fight to the killing. Deaths also occur, due to sexual relations
with multiple partners can lead to STDs and HIV / AIDS (Linggasari, 2008:
48-49).
STD
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases - often referred to as the "gateway"
entry of HIV. STDs are some of the types of infections caused by bacteria,
viruses or fungi, such as gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, trikormona
vaginalis, and candidiasis (yeast). PMS was first known in the Asmat long
before PSK - Commercial Sex Workers - come, namely in 1977 when members of the
contingent that follows rowing race Asmat IX PON in Surabaya, have sex with
prostitutes and bring home an STD (Linggasari, 2008: 42) Why say PMS as a
"gateway" entry of HIV? A person can be exposed to an STD if
frequently changing partners. The disease can be transmitted through sexual
intercourse without using a condom and also transmitted from mother to baby
before or at the time of delivery. If exposed to the disease, the patient's
genitals would ooze pus and the patient will walk with a slight thigh open to
relieve the pain. Injuries resulting from the disease can facilitate HIV
transmission. That is why PMS is often said to be the "gate" or
"entrance" of HIV.
What
is HIV? HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or the virus that causes
AIDS. So, HIV is a virus, while AIDS is a disease. HIV is found in body fluids,
namely blood, semen, and genital fluids in people who have been infected. HIV /
AIDS can affect anyone who does behaviour that may allow the exchange of bodily
fluids. Thus, a person can be infected with HIV if he had sex with other people
who have been infected with HIV without using a condom, and if someone did a
blood transfusion to another person with HIV if using needles that are not
sterile, including piercing, tattooing and acupuncture; if using a syringe with
a drug used together people who are infected with HIV, and can also be
transmitted from an infected mother to child during childbirth or
breastfeeding. But now the transmission from an infected mother to child during
childbirth or breastfeeding can now be prevented. News from www.kompas.com I
can state that, in the district of Columbia, United States, since 2009,
pregnant women with HIV shall take antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to prevent HIV
transmission from mother to baby. As a result, no babies were born infected
with HIV from their mothers. Chief of the Integrated Services HIV Cipto
Mangunkusumo, Prof. Zubairi Djoerban in Jakarta, while delivering results
Ke-19/2012 International AIDS Conference, said the research showed three people
living with HIV with acute leukaemia and lymphoma can be cured disorders, the
virus is no longer detectable. As for the others recover functional HIV, the
virus that is still there but not growing. They immediately take ARVs for three
years once diagnosed HIV positive. Now, even though seven years without
medication, they stay healthy.
We
can not know a person has HIV or not just from the looks of it, no special
signs that can identify whether someone has been infected with HIV, because of
the presence of the HIV virus itself takes quite a long time (5-10 years to
achieve the so-called full down AIDS). Many HIV-positive people that look like
healthy people, then, the only way to know one's HIV status is by a blood test.
Instead, a person taking an HIV test if he or she:
•
Have 3 pairs or more in the last 12 months
•
When having unprotected sex (sex without a condom)
•
If you feel the previous sexual partners may be unsafe sexual behaviour
•
If you never use the same syringe with other people
•
When exposed to an STD
•
When health workers directly exposed to the blood at the time of duty
If
someone did a blood test, it will through the process of VCT - Voluntary
Counselling & Testing -. VCT stages are as follows:
1.
Pre-counseling (pre-test counselling
2.
Test (blood test)
3.
Post counselling (counselling after the test)
But when a person infected with HIV for the
first time and possibly checked with a blood test, then the first test is not
necessarily detectable levels of virus in the blood. This is because the body
takes about 3-6 months to produce antibodies that will be detected by a blood
test. This period is called the window period (window period). During this
period, if certain people had already had a virus in his body (although not yet
be detected through a blood test), he was able to transmit HIV.
If
we already know our relatives, our friends or other people who have HIV / AIDS,
do not be afraid of contracting with a company to decide to stay away from
them, because HIV / AIDS can not be transmitted by simply:
•
Getting in touch with new clothes or goods used by people with HIV / AIDS
(PLWHA)
•
Holding hands, hugging, kissing cheeks, chatting with people living with HIV
•
Touching or wipe the tears and sweat of people living with HIV and affected by
sneezing PLWHA
•
Exposure to mosquitoes and other insects
•
Swim with people infected with HIV in the same pool
•
Living at home with PLWHA, eat together, sleep together (originally not to have
sex without a condom with PLWHA), using shared WC
Prevention
is better than cure. There are some preventative precautions to do so were not
infected, ie faithful to one partner only, so, if you have a partner do not be
looking for another couple to have sex; does not have sex at all, or do not
have sex before marriage, always wear a condom when having sex with multiple
sexual partner, do not use needles, and draw closer to God, praying, asking to
avoid things that can cause yourself suffering from HIV / AIDS.
A
person who has been infected with HIV if not taking ARVs on a regular basis or
do not keep the pattern of life well, the HIV virus will be turned into AIDS.
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a collection of symptoms
that arise due to reduced immunity. There is no cure for this disease, which is
why people with AIDS will lead to death.
The passage of time since a person with HIV
infection to AIDS can be long, between 5 to 10 years. While still infected with
HIV, a person still looks healthy, but when it has reached the stage of AIDS,
the major signs that are seen are:
•
Weight loss of more than 10% in a short time
•
prolonged high fever (more than one month)
•
Prolonged Diarrhea (more than one month)
The
additional symptoms such as:
•
Cough prolonged (more than one month)
•
Skin disorders and irritation (itching)
•
Fungal infections of the mouth and throat
•
Swollen lymph nodes throughout the body, such as under the ears, neck, armpits
and groin
The
highest percentage of HIV transmission occurs through unprotected intercourse,
number of sex workers because it is very influential on the number of people
living with HIV / AIDS. The more the number of sex workers, it will be more the
number of people with HIV / AIDS. Their presence will invite many prospective
victim of STD and HIV / AIDS. This is because the prostitute who has no power
to satisfy customers who are reluctant to use condoms when having sex with a
reason to have sex without using condoms more satisfying than using condoms.
They can only think and do not dare refuse the request for fear customers will
flee and the revenue will shrink.
The
customers who have married prostitutes will go home and pass the virus is
already in his body to his wife. And when the wife is pregnant, then the baby
is in the womb will be infected with HIV as well if precautions are not taken
immediately. Unfortunately for the customer or others, especially customers who
married prostitutes who have learned that multiple partners without using a
condom would be able to transmit STDs and HIV / AIDS but still do not use it
for reasons as above. They are more concerned with the satisfaction of the
safety of themselves and their families and others. The PSK was first entered
into the Asmat region in 1996 when it broke out in the aloes region. Initially,
the searchers came aloes just carry themselves with a friend or group of men,
but gradually they came, bringing with them the women who accompanied them in
the forest, that women prostitutes. But despite repeatedly sent home by
security forces, the prostitute still keep coming, again and again, pull
rental homes and guesthouses through the practice of local government never
existed. This is due to the involvement of an official, military and business
person in the presence of prostitute. Even so, the presence of PSK inevitably
have ups and downs, as many walks of life who oppose their presence as well as
government action. Still, until now the prostitute
still exists and continues to grow in number.
It
is a difficult thing to clean prostitute from Asmat regency. Not only here,
everywhere else was so. The presence of prostitute as if he had been part of a
place or a region. If so, there is still to do to prevent the spread of viruses
and disease, that is, by holding counselling. Counselling related to HIV / AIDS
must often do, given the increasing number of people with HIV in the district
of Asmat because most were lacking and not well-informed about HIV / AIDS. In
addition to HIV / AIDS prevention education by organizing, sharing information
about HIV / AIDS as well as individual needs. In this case, it takes a high
concern and creativity or how the way we communicate and give understanding to
others. Students Asmat district should receive more attention. As children and teenagers, of course, they have a high curiosity for something new and often try things
that they do not understand the risks that result from their actions are.
However, they will be the successor and builder for the future of our
beloved county. What happens if the families of young Asmat regency has many
fall into dangerous things, such as HIV / AIDS? We all want the best for the
future of the district. Therefore, counselling and activities on HIV / AIDS
should be routinely performed in schools, from elementary to early discussions
elementary, junior high and high school until the discussions are more complex.
Thus, the families of young people will be able to understand what is meant by
HIV / AIDS, how it is transmitted and what is caused by the virus and the
disease early on.
However,
all things die back to each one of us, the important thing is to realize the
dangers of HIV / AIDS. Remember, how HIV / AIDS has claimed many lives
including babies who are innocent. Therefore, let us together to fight HIV /
AIDS to keep ourselves each. Protect Asmat regency of the threat of HIV / AIDS.
*
Dewanti Dadana, Grade XI IPA 1Secondary Schools 1 Agats – Asmat - Papua
