Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - At least 20 people died of HIV/AIDS in East Nusa Tenggara between January and August 2022, according to the local AIDS control commission.
"The HIV/AIDS-related death cases were spread in 11 districts and most of them were found in Manggarai with six cases,” chief of the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial AIDS Control Commission, Dr. Husein Pancratius, informed on Wednesday
Meanwhile, four HIV/AIDS deaths were recorded in Sumba Barat Daya, two in Lembata, and one each in Sikka, Alor, West Sumba, Ende, Timor Tengah Utara, Belu, East Sumba, and East Manggarai.
Pancratius expressed the hope that the high number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths will draw serious attention from the regional government and relevant stakeholders.
He said the STOP (Suluh, Temukan, Obat, dan Pertahankan, or Screening, Find, Treat, and Maintain) movement needs to be conducted on a massive scale to prevent the transmission of the virus and keep the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths down.
He also stressed the importance of intensifying medical checkups to detect the virus and handle HIV transmission as early as possible.
"It takes five to 10 years for HIV to develop into AIDS, so if it is detected earlier, it can be treated," he said.
HIV/AIDS-related education must be stepped up to make the people aware of the need to prevent virus transmission, he said.
"The most important thing is to build common awareness about the dangers of the disease so that it can be prevented," he added.
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