Greater access to HIV-sensitive social protection in Indonesia

JAKARTA (Joint Press Release): Key officials from Indonesia, India and Thailand will gather in Jakarta on 21st November to attend a UN-sponsored meeting which aims to promote HIV-sensitive social protection in Indonesia.

More than 70 health officials will attend the two-day meeting, organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Indonesian Health Minister HE. Nafsiah Mboi will open the meeting which is titled, “Advancing HIV-Sensitive Social Protection in Indonesia”

Indonesia, India, China and Thailand have the largest number of people living with HIV in the Asia Pacific region. During 2001-2009, the number of Indonesian people living with HIV grew more than thirty fold. The number of provinces reporting HIV cases also increased from 11 in 2004 to all 33 provinces by 2009.

A 2011 study commissioned by UNDP revealed that HIV-affected households in Indonesia face far greater economic and social challenges compared to unaffected households. Higher unemployment rates, three-fold increases in health care costs and lower levels of school participation, are some of the challenges faced by these Indonesian’s.

The meeting aims to increase understanding about the benefits of extending social protection to people living with HIV and other key affected populations such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender persons and persons who inject drug. It will provide a forum to exchange experiences and lessons learned, and to discuss mechanisms designed to end stigma and discrimination. Best practices at the national and provincial level will also be examined, including initiatives from Jamsostek, Jamkesda and relevant NGOs.

“We need more HIV friendly social security schemes as the number of people with HIV in Indonesia is projected to rise to 680,000 by 2014, if the coverage of HIV prevention and treatment services remain at current levels. ILO believes that providing proper healthcare is critical to preventing the spread of HIV because services needed by people with HIV (PLHIV) are much more than antiretroviral therapy only. Thus, we have to work together to ensure the inclusion of PLHIV within the universal health care schemes under the existing national law,” said Peter van Rooij, Country Director of the ILO in Indonesia.

Applauding the strong commitment and leadership of the Government of Indonesia in its HIV response, Beate Trankmann UNDP Country Director in Indonesia said: “UNDP believes that all people in Indonesia including those living with HIV should be provided with equal access to health services and protection. We hence support a broad based, inclusive social protection scheme that can address the needs of socially marginalized populations in general and people living with HIV in particular”.Indonesian Health Minister, Nafsiah Mboi, will discuss the importance of policy reform and harmonization, as well as political will in securing inclusive social protection in Indonesia. Mechanisms to increase access and budget requirements will also be discussed.

In addition, the consultation will review the social protection floor (SPF) which promotes basic social security rights and universal coverage in Indonesia as well as the costing of the inclusion of HIV treatment and care.

National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and National Social Security Council officials will also present their views during the meeting.

For further information please contact:

Ms Risya Ariyani Kori
Programme Officer for HIV and AIDS
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 202
Email

Gita Lingga
Media Relations Officer of ILO Jakarta
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 115
Email