FIVE KARAWANG COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ACCEPT AIDS FIVE KARAWANG COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS ACCEPT AIDS PATIENTS

Karawang, W Java, Feb 4 (ANTARA) - Five of the 46 community health centers in Karawang district, West Java, provide services for people with HIV/AIDS, a local health officer said.

HIV/AIDS patients can come to the Karawang, Cikampek, Pedes, Tempuran, and Cilamaya community health centers to get medical treatment, Asep Hidayat Lukman said here Thursday.

Besides going to these health centers, the patients could also come to Karawang's public hospital and four private hospitals, said Lukman, head of the district's health office.

The health centers would provide them with consultation and body immunity nutrition services, he said.

A local NGO, "Kita-Kita Foundation", noted that there were 196 people living with HIV/AIDS in the region, including 15 infants and housewives.

A total of 13 AIDS patients in Karawang district died last year.

The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate remains high in the district partly due to the relatively high incidence of intravenous drug abuse and free sex, he added.

PK-MAK