The Kediri Disease Control and Environmental Health Agency (P2PL) disclosed Saturday that 17 HIV-positive and AIDS patients have died in the last decade.
Kediri P2PL chief Nur Munawaroh said the Central Java regency has had 90 reported HIV/AIDS cases between 1999 and 2008.
"HIV/AIDS patients in Kediri are dominated by migrant workers, sex workers, as well as intravenous drug users," Munawaroh told Kompas.com.
"Other high risk groups in the area include gays, drivers, housewives and toddlers," she said.
Within the last year, Munawaroh said, two housewives were reportedly infected by HIV, one of which had died after succumbing to the illness.
Despite the presence of several health clinics for those at high risk, Munawaroh argued that the agency has faced challenges in publicizing the dangers of HIV/AIDS with some high risk groups.
"The gay community here is an example. They tend to keep to themselves so it's hard for us to reach out and provide them with necessary knowledge and information," she said.
