Tag Archives

Drug users not treated humanely

Friday, August 14, 2009 0 , , , , Permalink 0

Anton Muhajir, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Fri, 08/14/2009 2:11 PM | The Archipelago

Drug users in Asia and Pacific regions face discrimination and limited access to proper medical treatment since many of these countries still regard human rights as minor problems, a forum was told Thursday.

“It requires comprehensive policy changes at the national, regional and international levels to enable these persons to receive needed medications and treatments,” said a speaker in a forum on Injecting Drug Users (IDU), with the theme Reform: Toward Human Rights Drug Policy, in Sanur, as part of the 9th International Congress on AIDS in the Asia-Pacific.

Continue Reading…

Indonesian AIDS Policy: "On the ground" Isn't as Good as "On Paper"

Monday, May 11, 2009 0 , , , , Permalink 0

by Anton Muhajir
Published at Asia Report

For Agus, fictitious name, the end of life was not the end of a journey. As a former injection drug user (IDU), he faced a new problem when he passed away. Two days ago, the IDU died from complications arising from AIDS. Often in Bali, a person who dies is the responsibility of not only their families, but also of the traditional local community, called banjar.

Normally, this care consists of bathing, burying, cremation, and a traditional farewell ceremony. But not for Agus.  Agus’s body was rejected not only by his family, but by his community, as well.

Continue Reading…