A nun has given high school students a factual insight into the realities of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, while dispelling some of the myths.

"They wanted to know whether the HIV virus can be transmitted through a kiss,” said Sister Mary Yosefina of the Servants of the Holy Spirit.

She and NGO worker Yohanes Jimmy Carvalo organized the program for 500 students of different faiths at the Catholic-run Senior High School of Karya in Ruteng, capital of West Manggarai, on June 25. “The students were so enthusiastic," said Sister Yosefina afterwards.

Sister Yosefina pointed out that in all three districts of the Ruteng diocese – Manggarai, West Manggarai, and East Manggarai – 66 people are living with HIV/AIDS and 16 have died of it. While these figures are not abnormally high, the infected include 10 high school students and Sister Yosefina believes that general awareness of HIV/AIDS is poor. “That’s why we organized the program,” she said.

The students were also briefed on the problem of human trafficking by Johanes Jimmy Carvalo, who told them that the practice has reached a number of villages in the diocese. “Many villagers have been trapped by it,” he claimed.

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