REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CIKARANG -- Homosexuality had become leading cause of HIV/AIDS in Bekasi Regency. The virus spreaded fast among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Based on data from the Bekasi Regency Health Office obtained by Republika.co.id, the total number of people with HIV/AIDS from January to October 2018 reached 1,505. It means Bekasi got additional 141 people infected by the human immunodeficiency virus compared to the same period last year.

Head of the Division of Disease Control and Prevention (P2P) of Bekasi Regency Health Office, Irfan Maulana, said that the increase of 141 people are mostly MSM. Meanwhile, of the 1,505 people with HIV/AIDS, 506 people are MSM.

According to Irfan at least a thousand gay communities existed in Bekasi Regency. To control the spread of HIV, local government tried to cut the chain of infection.

However, it was not an easy task. There were thousands of gay communities in Bekasi Regency.

Irfan said gay tried to protect their communities. Government has taken soft approaches to manage HIV infection.

"Our approach is not to fight them,,” Irfan said on Thursday (Nov 22).

Irfan asserted most of men who become gay, actually still feel shame and admit their behaviour is not normal. On one hand, Irfan said it needs participation from many parties to prevent the mental disorders and treat those who have become gay.

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