Indonesia
Health and HIV situation
Overall, the HIV prevalence rate of Indonesia remains low at 0.16%, but the HIV epidemic in the country has been among the fastest growing in Asia. Indonesia now faces a concentrated epidemic mainly fuelled by injecting drug use and the sharing of contaminated equipment, unprotected paid sex and, to a lesser degree, unprotected sex between men.
National HIV programme and response
In 2007, the National AIDS Commission launched the HIV/AIDS Response Strategies 2007-2010. Key objectives include HIV prevention by targeting high-risk behaviour and vulnerable populations, and providing medical treatment, care, and support services to people living with HIV. The Strategy encourages greater stakeholder involvement in the HIV/AIDS response; more partnerships between the government, professional organizations, civil society, NGOs, the private sector, as well as strengthened policy coordination in HIV/AIDS efforts at national and local levels.
Migration patterns
Indonesia is a major sending country of migrant workers to the Middle East and to neighbouring Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. In 2006, 680,000 Indonesian migrant workers - 80% (541,708) of them female - were deployed by the government; 502,432 migrants (73.9%) worked in the non formal sector including domestic work, and the rest in the formal sector. Government estimates of the total annual number of Indonesian migrants abroad was 1 million in 2007.
HIV response for migrant populations: Gaps and opportunities
Indonesia has shown commitment to address HIV vulnerability among migrants and mobile populations with their inclusion in national HIV prevention, care and treatment strategies. Policies have been developed to provide migrants with health and reintegration services and to prohibit HIV mandatory testing during the recruitment process.