Helping Indonesia Fight HIV In Its Two Papua Propinces

Helping Indonesia fight HIV in its two Papua provinces

13 August, 2012

Indonesian Minister for Health, Dr Nafsiah Mboi and AusAID Indonesia’s Chief of Operations visit a HIV clinic in Jayapura, Papua, Indonesia. Photo: AusAID

Indonesia is committed to meeting Millennium Development Goals but is still struggling to combat HIV/AIDS. Its two eastern provinces, Papua and West Papua, are experiencing an HIV epidemic around 18 times greater than its national average.

Australia has been a long time partner with Indonesia in combating HIV and AusAID is providing $25 million in assistance to help Indonesia improve access to HIV services in these two provinces. This is part of the $100 million HIV partnership commitment between Australia and Indonesia announced in 2007.

A new four-year Rapidly Expanding Access to Care for HIV (REACH) program, however, will build on the success of the existing partnership.

It is estimated that by 2016, the REACH program will help more than 20,000 people to receive proper HIV treatment in both provinces.

AusAID Indonesia’s Chief of Operations Mat Kimberley, recently traveled to Papua with the Indonesian Minister for Health, Dr Nafsiah Mboi, to see first-hand how the partnership makes a difference to the lives of people living with HIV.

'We share the same concern as Indonesia on the HIV epidemic in Papua and West Papua, which have the highest HIV prevalence in Indonesia,' Mr Kimberley said.

'Australia’s assistance will help improve access to HIV services and increase the number of people who are getting the care and treatment they need.'

'It will also provide support for testing and treatment of related diseases, primarily tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections.'

Australia’s assistance will help build nine Centres of Excellence (COE) to serve as referral centres for HIV. They will also serve as a base for expert teams to give training, mentoring, monitoring and clinical leadership to hospitals and community health facilities across the provinces.

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), is the implementing partner and will work with government agencies, including provincial and district governments in Papua and West Papua, to help them to lead, manage and fund the HIV response.