INDONESIA HAS FASTEST HIV TRANSMISSION RATE IN ASIA

Bandung, Jul 19 (ANTARA) - The low knowledge of the public on the spread and prevention of Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), made Indonesia the country in Asia where HIV/AIDS is transmitted most rapidly.

Yudhi F Oktaviadhi, writer of "Syair Untuk Sahabat" (Poetry for a Friend) made the statement in the launching of the book, and an AIDS compaign at the Foreign Languages High School (STBA) Yapari ABA by the end of the week.

She said that posters and advertisements on public service on HIV appeared to be ineffective in providing the general public with what they should know about the fatal disease.

Many even misunderstood, especially youngsters, the message which the posters on AIDS tried to convey.

Realizing the minimum information on AIDS which can be obtained, Yudhi who is also a reporter of the Bola tabloid, tried to take part by writing the "Syair Untuk Sahabat", which mainly contains true stories on the life of people with HIV/AIDS which she had collected since 2003.

Actually, many books were already written on the subject, but since they had been written in a too technically way, her book had been written in a very popular manner easy to understand by lay people.

It is the virus which actually needs to be avoided, not the carrier, there is no problem in shaking hands with or touching such a person, she said, adding that it is tragic indeed if such person is isolated by his or her family, or avoided even by a hospital.

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