Recent social media posts have been abuzz with news that 522 children and adolescents in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, have tested positive for HIV/AIDS. Responding to this situation, the Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) clarified that this spike in findings is a positive impact of the massive expansion of early detection services, and thus does not automatically indicate a surge in new transmission cases within the community.
Health expert from Universitas Muhammadiyah Surabaya (Umsura), Vella Rohmayani, urged the public to remain calm and avoid stigmatizing People Living with HIV (PLHIV). According to her, the negative perception and discrimination against sufferers often stem from a lack of public understanding regarding the transmission mechanisms of the virus.
The Umsura Medical Laboratory Technology lecturer clarified that HIV is not transmitted through daily social interactions such as shaking hands, sharing eating utensils, or living under the same roof. The transmission of this virus is highly specific, namely through risky sexual contact, the use of unsterile needles, contaminated blood transfusions, and vertical transmission from mother to baby.
Vella warned that the fear of being ostracized due to social stigma is actually the main obstacle in managing this disease. When people feel judged, high-risk groups will be reluctant to undergo screening. As a result, case detection is delayed, and transmission could potentially continue to spread undetected.
Furthermore, she explained that current medical advancements allow PLHIV to live a quality life through routine antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Specifically for cases detected in early childhood, they are most likely caused by vertical transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding, which could actually be prevented through strict screening of pregnant women and proper early medical treatment.
Meanwhile, to curb cases among adolescents, Vella emphasized the importance of strengthening age-appropriate and science-based reproductive health education. Collaborative efforts between families, schools, and health facilities are highly needed so that the younger generation understands the consequences of risky behavior and the importance of health screening before marriage.
