Malang City Grapples with HIV/AIDS Cases, Focuses on Eradicating Stigma
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Health officials are working to dispel misconceptions and provide support for those affected, aiming to eliminate HIV/AIDS by 2030.
From January to May 2025, MALANG has seen 190 cases of HIV/AIDS. In response, the Malang City Health Office (Dinkes) is actively combating the negative stigma surrounding people with HIV/AIDS (ODHA).
According to the Head of Disease Prevention and Control of the Malang city Health Office, Meifta Eti Winindar, HIV/AIDS cases have decreased compared to the 211 cases reported during the same period in 2024.
Winindar emphasized that HIV/AIDS isn’t always linked to what she terms “deviant behavior,” noting transmission can occur through shared needles or from mother to child.
“If we see, HIV transmission is not only from free sex but it could be that he is because it is obtained from his mother. It could be that it can get from the use of syringes that are drugs, or it could be infected from his partner.”
Misconceptions persist, with many viewing HIV/AIDS as a “curse,” leading to the ostracization of affected families.
“Then also his understanding he considers related to HIV, a deadly curse disease so that it becomes a taboo to discuss it because ther is exclusion from the family. So that’s what we have to scrape, yes,” Winindar added.
Family Support is Crucial
Winindar stressed the importance of family support in managing HIV/AIDS and achieving the government’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2030.
“the place that should strengthen is in the family. yes he is sick, but that does not mean his life is finished. We educate the community through the thematic musrenbang, in the village, the socialization of HIV/AIDS prevention and control,” she explained.
“The place that should strengthen is in the family. Yes he is sick, but that does not mean his life is finished.”
Malang City offers HIV/AIDS services at 30 health facilities (Fasyankes). Meifta emphasized the need for lifelong, uninterrupted treatment to maintain immunity.
“Well, we hope we check, we will counsel first. Even if the results are positive, we can provide treatment. treatment can be done as early as possible, once it is found to be treated immediately,” Winindar concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions About HIV/AIDS
- How is HIV transmitted?
- HIV is transmitted through specific bodily fluids, including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.The most common routes of transmission are unprotected sex, sharing needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding blank”> (CDC).
- What are the symptoms of HIV?
- Early symptoms of HIV can be flu-like and may include fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Though, many people with HIV may not experience any symptoms for years. Without treatment, HIV can weaken the immune system and lead to more severe symptoms and opportunistic infections blank”> (Mayo Clinic).
- How is HIV treated?
- HIV is treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which involves taking a combination of medications that suppress the virus and prevent it from damaging the immune system. ART can definitely help people with HIV live long and healthy lives and prevent transmission of the virus to others blank”> (HIV.gov).
