In recent years, progress has been recorded in the implementation of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) control program in Indonesia. Various HIV services have developed, and the number of people utilizing them has also increased rapidly. Currently, the trend shows a decrease in the number of new HIV infections in Indonesia. According to the Ministry of Health's estimate in 2020, the number of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2020 was 543,100, lower than the previous estimate in 2016. Meanwhile, data on HIV-Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in Bali Province in 2022 indicates 27,880 cases spread across Denpasar, Badung, and Buleleng regencies. Among these regencies, Denpasar has the highest number of cases, with an average age ranging from 20 to 29 years (10,162 cases) or 37.9%, and 30 to 39 years (9,594 cases) or 33.6%.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with various stakeholders, has developed a comprehensive and sustainable model of HIV (Sexually Transmitted Infections) STI services to ensure decentralized and integrated comprehensive services in the existing healthcare system up to the Primary Health Care Facilities (FKTP). The HIV-AIDS control policy refers to the Global Getting To Zeros policy,
1. Reducing and eliminating new HIV infections
2. Reducing and eliminating deaths caused by AIDS-related conditions
3. Eliminating discrimination against People Living with HIV-AIDS (PLWHA).
Since April 2022, the Westerlaken Foundation/Westerlaken Alliance Indonesia (WAI), in collaboration with Bali Kids, NEBA Foundation, and Wilde Ganzen Foundation, has successfully launched the HIV-AIDS Awareness program. Activities in this program include HIV-AIDS education for schoolchildren aged 12-18. In February 2024, WAI visited 15 schools, reaching 292 beneficiaries in various regencies in Bali Province. The HIV-AIDS Awareness program indirectly contributes to achieving the three zeros for HIV/AIDS. Our sincere hope is that, through education and awareness about HIV-AIDS, children in Bali can avoid HIV-AIDS and refrain from discriminating against PLWHA.
