Jakarta Post Examines Indonesian Support Group for HIV-Positive People
Indonesia's Jakarta Post on Friday examined Sobat ODHA, or Friends of People with HIV/AIDS -- an HIV/AIDS not-for-profit support group located on the Indonesian island of Bali. According to the Post, "dozens" of HIV-positive people live on Bali, and knowledge about HIV/AIDS is "alarmingly low, even among people with the virus." Sobat ODHA -- which is made up of 25 young people, including university students, journalists and members of religious organizations and other groups -- seeks to educate HIV-positive people about available treatment. Members' tasks include calling patients to remind them to take their medicine and keeping patients company, the Post reports. Dhayan Dirgantara, who coordinates the group, said HIV-positive people face stigma and discrimination, and Sobat ODHA helps to "ease their social, mental and physical burden." The project is an initiative of Bali+, a not-for-profit organization that supports prevention and access to treatment among HIV-positive people on Bali and works with high-risk groups, such as injection drug users (Erviani, Jakarta Post, 7/21).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.