The idea of HIV and AIDS are more commonly associated with drug abusers and those who share syringes. But in Malaysia, the main contributing factor to HIV cases can be attributed to unhealthy sexual practices.
About a shocking 80% of the 73,557 HIV cases in the country are transmitted through sexual behaviours.
In an article by The Star, State Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman Low Chee Leong shared that it was the people who engaged in unsafe sex that suffered more from HIV than drug abusers.
Source: Berita Harian
Low stated that Malaysia is committed to the global declaration to achieve the three ‘zeroes’, these focusing on new HIV infection, deaths due to AIDS, and discrimination against patients.
He added that the country’s short-term goal was to achieve a breakthrough in reducing the incidences of infection by 2020, in collaboration with many other stakeholders.
Source: Tribun Manado
Health Ministry official Dr Anita Suleiman shares Lee’s sentiments. She said that the infection pattern had changed dramatically over the past 25 years since the HIV case was first reported in the country!
Now, more people are getting infected with HIV through unsafe sexual practices instead of drug abuse.
Source: The Rakyat Post
“The reason is due to Health Ministry’s intervention which provided methadone replacement therapy and also distributed sterile syringes to hardcore drug users for free, contributing to significant reduction,” she told the audience and press.
She also added that the ministry has noticed a dramatic increase of HIV infection through unsafe sexual practices.
In fact, the numbers are so drastic that Melaka reportedly has about 3,755 people living with HIV and about 1,138 AIDS patient as of last year!
Sex education is extremely important for the nation’s well being. Hopefully with more information, the statistics will point in a more positive direction in the future.
Also read: Survey: Over 31% of M’sian Students Who Have Sexual Experience Did It Before 14 Years Old
