“A brief pleasure, a lifetime of regret” – Doctor Warns Cheating Spouses of Rising HIV Cases in Malaysia

If you’re married and you’re still cheating on your spouse, this reminder might be for you.

If you’re not aware, the number of HIV cases in Malaysia has shown an upward trend this year, including among students. The Ministry of Health (MOH) also revealed that 90% of those infected with HIV in Malaysia are men.

For illustration purposes only

The rise of HIV cases in the country

Malaysian medical professional, Dr Say Shazril, recently issued a warning to cheating spouses about the rising cases of HIV in Malaysia, and reminded them that HIV, at the time of writing, has no effective cure.

Once infected with the virus, it will stick with the person for a lifetime, despite taking medications.

In his Instagram post, Dr Say explained that the human immunodeficiency virus, if left untreated, will progress to a lethal stage, known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is the final stage of HIV.

“I’m not stigmatising those who have HIV, but please be responsible for your actions. I’ve lost a few friends to AIDS, and don’t let others suffer for your behaviour, especially your wife and kids,” Dr Say asserted.

Until 2011, the primary cause of HIV was sharing needles, but now…

The doctor also highlighted that in the past decade, HIV was mostly caused by sharing needles, especially among drug users. However, the narrative has changed since 2011, as Dr Say pointed out that today, most HIV cases involve unsafe sex practices.

Just this year, a 16-year-old Malaysian boy admitted that he was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) due to peer pressure, which influenced him to try something new in Thailand, by paying for a prostitute.

Dr Say sternly reminded married men about the unsafe practice, which could severely affect the lives of their wives and children, and warned them about a lifetime of regret.

“Syoknya sekejap (a brief pleasure), but a lifetime of regret.”

What sort of other reminders can we use to warn the cheating spouses?

Also read: “Why can’t I see anything?” – Standard 2 M’sian Girl Becomes Permanently Blind Due to Unhealthy Diet