Indonesia: Jakarta - HIV & AIDS Public Discussion

Last Saturday (December 10, 2011), Global Citizen Corps Indonesia leaders with Indonesian Youth Health Ambassadors (IYHA) held a public discussion about HIV & AIDS in Mercy Corps Office Jakarta. The aim was to provide open discussion and a space for sharing experiences related to HIV & AIDS issues among 27 invited participants from several universities and high schools.

The discussion started with the introduction of GCC and IYHA, then the introductory of HIV & AIDS itself. Note that based from National AIDS Commission newest update, we’re now using the term HIV & AIDS instead of HIV/AIDS. It is important to differentiate HIV and AIDS through their definition and the medical treatment given. Furthermore, the participants were also shown the facts about its transmission risks, the phases, syndrome indication, preventions, treatments, and some myths which were medically doubted.

Participants were given cases to study related to discrimination towards people living with HIV & AIDS, for example a case which recently happened when a girl, whose father’s HIV positive, was rejected from a private elementary school in Jakarta due to the protest of other students’ parents.

From such cases,  participants had a big time discussing in groups about the danger of discrimination, prejudice, and ignorance—which is based from lack of knowledge, and thus giving the solutions based from medical facts and human rights—noticing that Dec 10 was a human rights day, so it should be included.

“With 27 participants, the public discussion has made me eager to make changes in my local society. Moreover, I also am just inspired to make research about HIV & AIDS,” said Achmad (20 year old) participant from Faculty of Nursing, University of Indonesia.

Raising awareness about global health issues like HIV & AIDS has been one of Global Citizen Corps Indonesia agenda. It is aimed for all people, not only for those who are based from health-study, but also other people regardless of educational background, ages, gender, etc.

“I was attracted to join this discussion because I really want to know about HIV & AIDS issues these days. Although I’m not coming from health related major, I have a concern here somehow. At first, it was a little bit disconcerting but later on it is great to know more about human rights and HIV & AIDS, also to have some friends from different backgrounds. I hope I can share the knowledge I’ve just had here,” said Niat (18 year old), from Javanese Literature Studies, University of Indonesia.

HIV & AIDS Public Discussion at Mercy Corps Office Jakarta was initiated by GCC Indonesia 2011 leaders