Fight Stigma, Build Empathy: UNU Jogja Holds HIV Seminar and Free Health Screenings

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – The Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (Satgas PPKS) at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), in collaboration with Yayasan Vesta Indonesia (YVI), organized a seminar and free health screenings for the UNU Jogja academic community on Friday (6/2).

The event, titled “Understanding HIV and ODIV and Building Awareness Without Stigma,” was part of an effort to improve health literacy while fostering social awareness within the campus environment.

The seminar provided an open and educational discussion space, aiming to help participants gain a more comprehensive understanding of HIV — not only from a medical perspective but also from social and humanitarian viewpoints.

UNU Jogja Vice Rector Suhadi stated that the program aligns with the university’s commitment to being an inclusive campus that is adaptive to technological and societal developments.

According to him, universities have a responsibility to create a safe and welcoming educational environment for all members of the academic community, free from discrimination.

“We are committed to providing educational services that are open to everyone, regardless of differences in religion, race, or socioeconomic background. HIV is an issue that must be understood holistically, so that our academic community and students can view it from a more humane and empathetic perspective,” he said.

In line with this, Nur Azizah, a representative of Yayasan Vesta Indonesia, emphasized that HIV education should not only focus on prevention but also on raising awareness and care for People Living with HIV (ODIV).

“HIV is not merely a health issue, but also a humanitarian issue,” she stated.

In addition to the HIV literacy seminar, the event continued with free health testing and counseling services for participants, serving as a concrete step toward early detection and sustained support. [Latifah]