HIV/AIDS Increase in Tulungagung

Tulungagung (Antara Bali) - Known cases of HIV/AIDS in Tulungagung district, East Java, increased 86 percent to 2,336  from 1,863 cases in 2013.

"We think that the increase was a direct effect of  the closure of the Kaliwungu and Ngujang prostitution centers. The spread of the disease has become out of control," Ifada, the coordinator of the Tulungagung AIDS Control Commission (KPA), said.

KPA has no proof to back up the presumption linking the increase in the HIV/AIDS cases to the closure of the brothel houses, Ifada acknowledged.

"The fact is that the cases increased after the closure of the prostitution complexes," he said here on Sunday.

He said at the complexes the prostitutes had regular medical checks, but now they are out of control.

"It is unfortunate that the effect was worse after the district authorities  decided to close the prostitution centers," he said.

Didik, an official of the district health office, described the increase in the known cases of HIV/AIDs  in Tulungagung as alarming.

"The spread of the disease is fast  and alarming," Didik said.

He said the only way to control the disease  from spreading further is by calling on the people to use condoms when having sex. (*/DWA)