TABANAN ~ Sex workers at Pesiapan bus terminal and café waitresses around Dauh Peken village, Tabanan, were counseled last week about the importance of being tested for HIV/AIDS, an official said.

Head of Dauh Peken village I Gusti Komang Wastana said the program was important to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS cases in the area, which have been drastically increasing over the past few years.

“It doesn’t look like we have so many HIV/AIDS cases, but many people have yet to be tested. I fear we can only see the tip of the iceberg,” Wastana said.

He said he hoped the program would show people how to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.

“Hopefully, the program will better educate prostitutes about the importance of getting tested for HIV regularly and teach them how to protect themselves and their clients from this deadly virus,” he said.