Inti Muda, the Indonesian young key population network, and UNAIDS conducted a survey to assess the needs of young key populations and young people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Indonesia.
The survey found that, due to the COVID-19 measures, 81,5% of the respondents are struggling to sustain their livelihood as they are experiencing loss in their business due to lack of customers, being laid off from work, and the inability to do sex work.
The availability and security to access antiretroviral treatment is seen as an urgent need during this time by the 61% of the respondents who are on antiretroviral treatment. It is concerning that 44% of young people living with HIV have less than 1-month supply of treatment.
A set of recommendations were developed to address the issues found in the survey, including the need to ensure provision of food and other social protection services including shelter for vulnerable populations; explore possibilities to work with local health facilities to lessen frequency of visits in times of COVID-19, including through multi-month dispensing of HIV treatment; and ensure ability to access to counsellors and peer supports virtually.
For more information, check out the full report
