Indonesia’s Papua province has the highest rate of HIV/Aids across the archipelago.

According to the goverment, every day up to 10 people in Baliem Valley, Wamena, are reported to have been infected with the virus.

And most of those living with HIV are young adults.

Here in Wamena public health centre, some 20 people are waiting anxiously in the waiting room.

They will receive their HIV results soon.

Doctor Lorina calls out the name of one of the patients – a man in his 20s, who works as a logger.

“Here’s the result. I’m really sorry, but I have to tell you the result is positive.”

The man stands still and refuses to give me an interview.

All the patients here are local residents of Baliem Valley in Wamena.

And those who are tested positive with HIV are in their productive age.

“Many of them are between 15 to 30 years old. They’re ashamed when they find out they have HIV. The cases that we find here…it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Many cases are still unreported. We work very hard here for the issue.”

According to the government, the main reason for the province’s high prevalence of infections is unsafe sexual practices.

23-year-old university student, Mina Matuan, had to quit her studies when she found out she had HIV.

“I was infected when I was 18 years old. I didn’t know how I got infected. Was it from my husband, my boyfriends, I don’t know. I was married once, but then we separated due to family problems. I started dating several men until I remarried again. I found out that I had HIV when we were already divorced.”

The HIV clinic in Wamena public health center opened in 2007, with only 7 HIV/Aids cases.

But six years later, there are more than 1,000 new HIV cases each year.

24-year-old Marice Kiwo is a housewife.

She gave birth to her first child two months ago after her husband died of Aids.

She contracted HIV from her husband, a common occurance in Papua, and now has an acute skin infection.

Nurse Maryoni pays her a home visit to check up on her.

Based on her physical condition, Maryoni says the virus is already at an advanced stage, where her immune system is deteriorating.

“She’s in a severe condition. She rarely comes to the health center. But I think it’s in the fourth stage now with this kind of skin infection.”

The local AIDS Commission have tried hard to campaign about HIV/Aids prevention, with some help from NGOs, and local and religious leaders.

But commission secretary, Daulat Simanjuntak, says they haven’t been able to keep the numbers down.

“Not everyone here has the correct information because of the challenges we face. Health centres are not available in every district. There’s also a limited number of health officers. But we try to raise people’s awareness of HIV through radio or through traditional events.”

Local leader, Father John Djonga, includes some information on HIV/Aids in his weekly sermon.

And he’s very worried about the future of young Papuans.

“HIV/Aids is killing young Papuans. This doesn’t only happen in Wamena, but also in other parts of Papua. We have a high number of HIV cases in Wamena. If we don’t do something serious now, especially the government, 20 years from now we won’t see another young Papuan generation. Some ethnic groups, family clans could just be wiped out because of AIDS.”