The Pekanbaru City Government remains committed to protecting the younger generation from the threat of sexually transmitted infections. This concrete step is demonstrated through intensive outreach targeting students, one of which took place at SMP Negeri 1 Pekanbaru on Wednesday (29/7/2026). On that occasion, the Vice Mayor of Pekanbaru, Markarius Anwar, urged the younger generation to be more self-aware and shield themselves from the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission.
This counseling, initiated by the Pekanbaru City Health Office, aims to instill a deep understanding from adolescence about the dangers of the virus that attacks the immune system. Markarius emphasized that early education is a crucial instrument so that students have a high awareness in choosing their social circles and avoiding promiscuity that could potentially ruin their future.
To provide a comprehensive understanding, this educational agenda not only explains the impact of HIV from a medical perspective through presentations by expert doctors, but also touches on moral and religious aspects. This two-pronged approach is expected to appeal to both the logic and spirituality of the students, enabling them to make responsible decisions in their daily lives.
Medically, HIV transmission is driven by risky activities such as sharing needles, unprotected sexual intercourse, unsafe blood transfusions, as well as mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. This campaign also dispels misconceptions in society by emphasizing that vulnerability to HIV is not determined by a person's sexual orientation, but is purely a result of unhealthy lifestyles.
