Tuesday, 15 September 2026
BANDA ACEH | INDATANEWS.COM - The Chairman of the Banda Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRK Banda Aceh), Irwansyah ST, has called for the establishment of an AIDS Control Committee in Banda Aceh. The initiative aims to strengthen cross-sector coordination in addressing the HIV/AIDS challenge in the city.
Irwansyah made the proposal after receiving a presentation from the Aceh Association of Health Offices (Adinkes Aceh) regarding the current situation of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) in Banda Aceh. The presentation was delivered during a meeting of the DPRK Banda Aceh leadership on Monday, July 27, 2026.According to Irwansyah, the HIV/AIDS issue cannot be resolved by a single institution alone. It requires collective involvement from the government, business sector, healthcare facilities, community organizations, and the wider public.
"I support the immediate establishment of an AIDS Control Committee. Through joint collaboration, this issue can be better controlled, managed, and improved," Irwansyah said.He explained that based on DPRK Banda Aceh data, a total of 918 HIV/AIDS cases have been recorded since 2008. In addition, 43 new HIV/AIDS cases were identified in Banda Aceh throughout 2026 up to the current period.
Irwansyah emphasized that DPRK Banda Aceh is ready to support efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and TB, both through budget allocations and by facilitating cooperation among various institutions.In response, Irwansyah proposed that DPRK Banda Aceh establish a joint forum involving companies and institutions across the city. Through this forum, all stakeholders are expected to build shared commitment and formulate concrete actions to address HIV/AIDS.
"We need to invite all institutions and companies in Banda Aceh to sit together at one table. This will allow all parties to develop the same commitment in dealing with this issue," Irwansyah stated.Adinkes Aceh representative Media Yulizar said the organization is currently focusing on three infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. However, the initial priority is addressing HIV/AIDS and TB through public awareness, educational programs, prevention campaigns, and strengthening support from various stakeholders.
The Chairman of Adinkes Aceh's board and Secretary of the Banda Aceh Health Office, dr. Rayhan, stated that the HIV/AIDS situation in Banda Aceh has reached a concerning level.He said that out of the 918 recorded HIV/AIDS cases, 226 individuals are residents holding Banda Aceh identity cards (KTP). The remaining cases involve people from other regions who live in Banda Aceh or receive medical treatment in the city.
Currently, Banda Aceh has 21 HIV/AIDS treatment facilities out of 115 available healthcare facilities across Aceh. These include RSUD dr. Zainoel Abidin, Meuraxa General Hospital, Meuraxa Community Health Center (Puskesmas), and other healthcare institutions.Dr. Rayhan also revealed that 140 HIV/AIDS patients have died. From January until the end of July 2026, Banda Aceh recorded 43 new HIV/AIDS cases.
He assessed that sexual contact among men, or Male Same Sex (MSM), remains one of the major risk factors contributing to HIV/AIDS transmission.He explained that when a TB case is found in a household, all family members must undergo examinations and receive treatment according to medical guidelines to prevent further transmission.
"If there are five people living in one household and one person tests positive for TB, the other four must also receive treatment," he said.Media Yulizar considered expanding screening activities as an important step in controlling TB transmission. These screenings should not only be conducted among the public but also within government institutions and private companies.
On the occasion, Adinkes Aceh requested support from DPRK Banda Aceh in providing funding for screening activities, public education, awareness programs, and prevention campaigns against HIV/AIDS and TB.In addition to government support, Adinkes also hopes companies will actively contribute through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. These efforts include protecting the health of employees and their families.
Deputy Chairman of DPRK Banda Aceh, Dr. Musriadi Aswad, stated that HIV/AIDS remains a serious threat that must be addressed collectively.
He said the 43 new cases recorded in 2026 indicate the need for a stronger and more coordinated strategy involving various institutions.He recalled that Aceh previously had an AIDS Control Commission (KPA), which actively carried out prevention and treatment programs. Therefore, Musriadi supports the proposal to establish a special committee as initiated by the Chairman of DPRK Banda Aceh.
"Controlling HIV/AIDS and TB requires the involvement of many institutions and organizations. With strong cooperation, prevention, treatment, and efforts to reduce cases can be implemented more effectively," Musriadi said.He expressed hope that the establishment of this coordination body would become a strategic step for Banda Aceh in overcoming challenges posed by infectious diseases while increasing public awareness about prevention and regular health check-ups. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Adli Safwan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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