UNSW Logo UNAIDS believes that Indonesia is one of the fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemics in Asia. In an attempt to deduce the number of HIV victims, a team of Indonesian and Australian experts has now crafted a unique computerized tool to reduce HIV infection and track disease burden across Indonesia. The research findings apparently have great significance in the health domain.

The HIV in Indonesia Model supposedly customized to the unique epidemic, behavioral and geographical variations of country was initially launched in Jakarta. This model popularly known as HIM is presumably based on a customized and sophisticated computer model. It allegedly employs available data to match behaviors and trends with outcomes. In addition to being flexible for users, HIM may also be used by different possible combinations of past and future epidemic patters and programs.

“HIV has had considerable negative impact in Indonesia. Last year almost 485,000 Indonesians were living with HIV. This number is estimated to grow to 744,000 by 2020, with around 50,000 new infections each year,” said lead researcher Associate Professor David Wilson, from Australia’s National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the University of New South Wales.

The tool can be purportedly employed for drug users, sex workers, transgenders, men who have sex with men and the general population as well. The novel HIV tool is predicted to open a new era for the design of optimal public health prevention strategies. This may also empower scientists to implement the most effective public health control measures.

The tool was developed for the Indonesian Ministry of Health and National AIDS Commission and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) with assistance from the World Bank.