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Batang, Central Java. Prostitutes in the red light districts of Batang in Central Java can handle as many as seven customers a day, according to the latest survey conducted by the AIDS Eradication Commission.

“That’s the highest number we get from the prostitutes at Penundan and Banyuputih prostitution complexes,” Muh Fajar Sajidin, a coordinator with the commission, or KPA, said on Sunday.

He said that the ability of individual prostitutes to attract customers varied. Some may not have a customer every day, but they served two to four men a day on average.

Prostitution in the district is affecting the spread of HIV in Batang district, he said. The latest number of HIV/AIDS patients in the district has increased from 46 in 2008.

“The disease is continuing to spread — it has now reached 65 people. And the number of victims will increase if there is no public awareness. It’s a worrisome situation,” Sajidin said.

He said there were 562 prostitutes in Batang, and last year they serviced 23,340 men.

In order to arrest the spread of the virus, the Batang regional government and the commission have established an STD clinic and provided counseling and testing in some subdistricts.

Sajidin said that the clinic was focusing on the prostitutes, and that this year, Kalisari Hospital in Batang would have the facilities to treat AIDS/HIV patients.

The local government also provides free condoms to the complexes, medical check-ups for the prostitutes and conducts public education campaigns.

“Unfortunately, a lot of what we do is frequently ignored by the prostitutes. They stick with their old habits,” Sajidin said.

“The local legislative council has recommended quarantining prostitutes or prohibiting prostitution but these approaches are difficult to carry out because they are considered a violation of human rights,” he said.



Antara