The Jakarta Post, 22 May 2014

The Gorontalo Legislative Council (DPRD) is deliberating a draft regional bill on HIV/AIDS prevention and control that includes both administrative and criminal sanctions for any parties discriminating against those with the condition.

The head of the council's special committee (Pansus) deliberating the bill, Syarifuddin Mobiliu, said on Thursday that the draft bill contained at least 19 articles, including sanctions on discriminative behavior against people with HIV/AIDS.

"It's a form of protection for people living with HIV/AIDS. The draft bill is also aimed at early prevention of the disease as Gorontalo has a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS," he said.

At the national level, Gorontalo is among the provinces with a low epidemic level of HIV/AIDS, which local residents continue to stigmatize against.

"Together with the Gorontalo office of the National AIDS Commission (KPA), we will immediately deliberate the draft bill so that it can be passed before the inauguration of the new DPRD Gorontalo members in June," said Syarifuddin.

Of the six regencies and municipalities in Gorontalo province, only Bone Bolango regency and Gorontalo City have enacted a regional bill on HIV/AIDS prevention.

Based on KPA Gorontalo data, the number of HIV/AIDS cases recorded between 2001 and April 2014 reached 153, comprising 70 people with HIV and 83 with AIDS. Most of the patients, or 88 cases, contracted it through sexual intercourse. (ebf)

Syamsul Huda M.Suhari, The Jakarta Post, Gorontalo

Source: The Jakarta Post