Two months into her pregnancy, Dira, a 23-year-old woman from Jayapura, Papua, received life-changing news: she tested positive for HIV. “I was devastated when I found out,” Dira said, who was preparing to take the civil servant exam at the time. “It felt like all my dreams crumbled in an instant.”

Dira contracted the virus from her partner, a situation shared by many women in Papua. The province has the highest number of HIV cases in Indonesia, with over 18,700 people living with HIV (PLHIV) as of September 30, 2023. Yet beyond the statistics, Dira’s story sheds light on the struggle of facing deeply ingrained societal stigma.

“After learning I had HIV, I was afraid to leave the house. It felt like everyone was staring at me with judgment,” she shared. But unexpectedly, support came from her family. “My mother always told me, ‘This isn’t the end of the world. If you don’t fight for yourself, who else will?’”

Encouraged by her family, Dira regularly visited the community health center (Puskesmas) to seek education and treatment. To her surprise, the care she received was far from the stigma she had feared. “They explained everything in a way that was easy to understand, and most importantly, the medication I needed was always available,” she said. The medication, known as Antiretroviral (ARV), is critical for slowing the virus’s progression and maintaining the quality of life for PLHIV.

Innovation and Hope for Papua

However, Ensuring ARV availability in Papua is no small task. Sitti Subaedah Ikha Heryani, or Ida, a health worker at the Imbi Health Center in Jayapura, Papua Province, shared her challenges.

“In the past, I often struggled with discrepancies in drug inventory due to manual recording errors. I had to repeatedly recount the stock to ensure accuracy,” Ida explained. She also highlighted the rapid rate of HIV transmission in Papua, especially as many couples had never undergone HIV testing. Meanwhile, the medication distribution from the local health office was often inconsistent.

A technological innovation, the Electronic Logistics Management Information System for Health (SMILE), was developed in collaboration with the Global Fund, UNDP Indonesia, and the Ministry of Health to address these challenges. Initially designed to support immunization programs, SMILE is now being used to monitor and manage the stock and distribution of HIV/AIDS medications, including ARVs, more efficiently.

The system automatically alerts health workers like Ida when medication supplies run low. “With SMILE, I can monitor the stock of medications anytime and anywhere, without needing to constantly return to the health center,” Ida said. SMILE also helps address challenges related to medication expiration. “The system alerts me when a medication is nearing its expiration date, allowing me to prioritize its use. Now, no medication goes to waste,” she added.

The presence of SMILE has made the work of health workers easier and more efficient, directly boosting their motivation to provide the best care. “I often encourage Dira, reminding her that if left untreated, her condition could worsen. I want her to know she still has the chance to achieve her dreams,” Ida said. SMILE is a testament to how technology can reach remote areas like Papua and become a game-changer in healthcare. The system has helped ensure the timely and adequate availability of ARVs at health centers, overcoming geographical and logistical challenges.

For Dira, the consistency of treatment without fear of running out of medication has brought renewed hope. “Being diagnosed with HIV isn’t the end of my life—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. I will keep fighting to achieve my dreams,” Dira smiled.

Written by Desliana Sande, Noor Hasibuan, Slamet Riyadi, Virgi Fatmawati, Vidia Darmawi (UNDP's SMILE Project Team)

Edited by Enggi Dewanti