Banjarmasin (ANTARA) – The Mayor of Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, H Ibnu Sina asked his citizens not only to be aware of the current COVID-19, but also the HIV AIDS virus, because 40 percent of infections are in the provincial capital.
“From data from all of South Kalimantan, the number of HIV AIDS cases is 3,300 people infected, 40 percent are in our city,” he said in Banjarmasin, Monday.
With the commemoration of World AIDS Day 2021, Ibn Sina asked his citizens to always practice a healthy life, by not doing anything that could cause the deadly disease.
Because there are quite a lot of cases in this city, Ibn Sina asked all parties to pay attention, not only the COVID-19 case which is the focus of attention at this time.
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“For the past two years we have been struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, while cases of other infectious diseases, including diseases of concern such as HIV and dengue fever, have all been covered up by the COVID-19 pandemic even though the cases are ongoing,” he said.
“That’s why we hope this gets our attention too,” he said.
He also conveyed, for the HIV AIDS case, as a sign of maximum attention from the city government, through the local health office, the Video Launching of the Coalition for HIV/AIDS Care coincided with the commemoration of World AIDS Day which falls today.
He also conveyed, one way to avoid the transmission of the disease is of course by doing prevention.
“Earlier I emphasized that prevention efforts should be carried out, if what has happened, this must be handled, but if it can be prevented, yes, prevention programs should be implemented,” he said.
Indeed, said Ibn Sina, the easiest way to prevent the transmission of the disease is to provide learning and avoid promiscuity.
“Our children during this pandemic are mostly at home, so they are closer to their families, to their fathers, to their mothers, to their parents so that they can be educated about the dangers of the HIV AIDS virus,” he said.
Apart from parents, Ibnu asked that the role of leaders in the community is also very important in socializing prevention, so that teenagers and adults understand more about the dangers of the disease.
“Hopefully this can be disseminated through community leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, as well as government institutions. In this case related SKPDs such as the health department and also family development to the sub-district and village heads,” he said.*
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Reporter: Sukarli
Editor: Erafzon Saptiyulda AS
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