Balinese People Empowered To Prevent HIV/AIDS

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and Hong Kong Red Cross seek to empower Bali's communities to actively prevent HIV/AIDS in the region, noted local PMI spokesman Dr I Gede Wiryana Patrajaya.

"The officers of PMI and the Hong Kong Red Cross are aiming to empower the people of Bali through training in the handling and prevention of HIV/AIDS," Patrajaya remarked in Denpasar on Monday.

He noted that besides educating the Balinese people on ways to prevent HIV/AIDS, the Red Cross officers also encouraged them to make changes in their lifestyle by staying away from drugs and risky sexual practices involving multiple partners.

According to Patrajaya, the training program on the prevention of HIV/AIDS conducted along with the Hong Kong Red Cross is expected to continue, so as to thwart the spread of the deadly disease to others.

"Together, let us participate and support the continuation of this program to prevent the spread of the scary disease of HIV/AIDS in the island of paradise," Patrajaya noted.

The spokesman further expressed hope that all public elements in Bali would play an active role in supporting the PMI and Hong Kong Red Cross program to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

In the meantime, Hong Kong Red Cross International Aid Services Department staff Terry C.H. Wong affirmed that the Hong Kong Red Cross fully supported the Indonesian Red Cross in their efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by involving the local commonalities.

"We cooperate with the PMI because, at this time, HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia require special attention and prevention efforts, and they should be made from now on," Wong emphasized.

He acknowledged that the Hong Kong Red Cross had worked with the PMI since 2004 in response to disasters, such as the tsunami in Aceh.

Moreover, cooperation in the HIV/AIDS prevention program has been well established since 2012 to 2015 and is expected to continue in a sustainable manner.

"We fully support the PMI in order to continue to empower the communities for the prevention of this disease, and we hope the training by the PMI officers will continue to be improved in areas of Denpasar and the districts of Badung and Buleleng where the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases have been found," he remarked. (WDY)