REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TERNATE - Ternate department of health, North Maluku recorded about 200 people are infected by HIV/AIDS. Among them are university students and a high school student. Local government recorded 190 patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) / Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) per June 2014. The number increased to more than 200 people until today.
Since 2007, about 40 people died. Health officers carried out periodic medical checkup for people who have the potential of HIV/ AIDS and majority of them were housewives.
"An increase happens on housewives, but we are constrained by human right legislation, so we cannot force a person to be examined," Head of Ternate health department, Nurbaity Radjabesi said on Tuesday.
Based on this result, the health office should find other people or couples with HIV/ AIDS. In last four months, the officers found 20 new patients. There are 13 villages in Ternate whose people are infected by HIV/ AIDS. The villages spread in several districts, such as Central Ternate, South Ternate and North Ternate.
To anticipate the spread of deadly virus, local government carried out socialization and counseling in villages and schools by using several cadres.