VP Attends Event Observing World AIDs Day

Jakarta, Dec 11 (ANTARA) - Vice President Boediono presided over a ceremony to mark the World AIDS Day at the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) here on Tuesday. Also present at the event were Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Women`s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar, and Boediono`s spouse, Herawati Boediono. The theme of the World Aids Day commemoration event this year is "Protect Women and Children from HIV/AIDS". "Women and children, as the focus of this year`s HIV/AIDS campaigns, must be supported and given attention because they are biologically vulnerable," Linda stated. "Women`s ignorance about HIV/AIDS affects their babies, particularly those still in their wombs," she noted. Linda said the government and the public must work together to ensure that the nation`s women have access to the necessary health services. "Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS is a one of the most important parts of such services," she pointed out. "All parties are expected to protect the children`s and women`s rights to access to education about sexual and reproductive health, among other things," Linda added.