Surabaya (beritajatim.com) – HIV and AIDS cases in Indonesia, especially in Surabaya, are increasing again. From January to October 2024, 243 active cases were recorded in Surabaya, with the majority of patients being of productive age.
Airlangga University (Unair) Immunology and Microbiology expert Dr Agung Dwi Wahyu Widodo said that drug use and free sex are the main factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS among the productive age group.
According to him, the use of shared injection needles by drug users and promiscuous sexual behavior are the two main routes of transmission.
“One of the factors is the spread by drug users (drug use) which is transmitted through needle injection. “Apart from that, it can also spread through free sexual behavior,” said Agung in his statement, Wednesday (13/11/2024).
He explained that HIV-1, the most common type of virus found, is highly contagious. This virus attacks CD4 cells in the immune system, which makes the body more susceptible to infection.
In addition, the HIV virus can mutate, which makes it easier to spread even under different conditions. “This is no less important and shows a quite dangerous spread process among productive age groups,” he said.
To tackle the spike in HIV/AIDS cases, Agung suggested that prevention start with proper education on how to prevent the spread of HIV. He also proposed an ABC campaign, consisting of:
1. Abstinence (avoiding sex before marriage),
2. Be Faithful (faithful to your partner), and
3. Condom (using a condom to prevent transmission).
Agung emphasized that this campaign is not to encourage free sex, but to educate about the importance of protection in sexual relations. [ipl/suf]
Making Sense of the HIV/AIDS Spike in Surabaya
Ah, Surabaya! Known for its bustling markets, majestic monuments, and, apparently, an increase in HIV and AIDS cases that’s causing quite a stir. It’s like Surabaya decided to take a page from a really bad soap opera; the plot twists just keep getting juicier, and unfortunately, there’s more seriousness lurking in these headlines than the last season of your favorite crime drama!
From January to October 2024, there have been 243 active cases logged. And let’s face it—most of those cases involve folks of productive age. That’s not just a number; that’s people hoping to enjoy life, love, and all the in-between moments. So, what’s the deal? Is it just one big wild party gone wrong? Not exactly, according to the wise words of Dr. Agung Dwi Wahyu Widodo from Airlangga University, who shed light on this spread.
What’s Fuelling This Party of Protest?
Well, we might as well point our fingers directly at drug use and free-spirited sexual habits. Yes, folks, it’s what everyone’s mum warned you about, and it turns out they were right all along. The good doctor indicates that sharing needles among our not-so-daring drug enthusiasts and an “open-door policy” in the bedroom are the main culprits. It’s shocking, really, how many people still don’t know that sharing is, after all, not caring in this case!
Let’s imagine for a second that HIV-1 is the nasty guest at this party who just won’t leave. This virus knows how to crash the immune system’s party, targeting those all-important CD4 cells. It’s like that one friend who shows up uninvited and somehow ends up drinking all your booze. To make matters worse, this sneaky virus can mutate—like it’s trying to find a new trend to fit into! What a pain!
Time to Fix the Spread (But Not Like That!)
So, what’s the solution? Dr. Agung suggests we kick things off with a proper education campaign; You know, something like “The ABCs of a Healthy Party Life.” Seriously, how fun does that sound? But to clarify, these aren’t just your average classroom ABCs—this is a shocking educational exploration that involves:
- Abstinence: Yes, avoiding sex before marriage could really be your best shot at keeping things neat and tidy.
- Be Faithful: Because nothing says “health” like being loyal! Who knew monogamy could be so sexy?
- Condoms: The superheroes of safe sex—always there, always ready, and most importantly, always prepared to save the day.
Now, don’t get it twisted—this doesn’t mean we’re promoting a wild free-for-all. No, this campaign is about education! Raising awareness on how to keep those pesky HIV/AIDS risks at bay.
Let’s Wrap This Up, Shall We?
In conclusion, while the situation in Surabaya may have taken a turn for the worse, it’s not without hope! Proper education, responsible actions, and an ounce of cheeky humor might just save the day. If you’re in the area, remember that taking care of your health is way cooler than being the person everyone talks about… for all the wrong reasons. So, stay safe, spread love (safely), and maybe, just maybe, let’s see those stats start to decline!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find an un-mutating virus to keep me company. Cheers!