GLOBAL FUND HELPING NTB ADDRESS HIV/AIDS, MALARIA PROBLEMS

Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, June 25 (ANTARA) - The Geneva-based Global Fund has provided Rp7.05 billion in funds for addressing three diseases, including malaria and HIV/AIDS, in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

"The three diseases include Malaria and HIV/AIDS, which have infected many people in this region," dr. Ida Bagus Djelantik, head of the Environment and Disease Control Unit of the NTB health service, said here on Thursday.

The international financial assistance will last for five years, and around Rp4.87 billion has been used from March 2008 until February 2009.

The foreign aid is used for medicine supply and training courses for paramedics, NGO activists and journalists.

Some 19 journalists from several print and electronic media are currently attending a training course in order to improve the role of the media in helping address the HIV/AIDS problem in NTB.

The number of the HIV/AIDS cases in NTB has continued to increase , especially after the operation of five VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing for HIV) clinics on Lombok Island, in NTB Province.

The client visit rate for having HIV tests continues to increase annually. In 2005, there were 548 clients, significantly up to 3,577 clients in 2006, 3,572 clients in 2007, and 5,513 clients in 2008. From January to May 2009 there were 2,670 clients.

The number of HIV/AIDS cases in 2007 was 70, and down to 51 cases in 2008. From January to May 2009, the number of HIV/AIDS cases was 31, he said.

Malaria is quite common in NTB and foreign tourists are recommended to get anti-malaria injection before visiting the province.

In 2008, five NTB residents died of malaria, down from 17 deaths in the previous year.

"The number of malaria cases in 2008 was 303, also down from 613 cases in 2007," he said.

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