As advanced as the medical treatments are today, let it be remembered that not ALL illnesses have effective cures. If you’re sexually active, ALWAYS keep in mind of the possible transmissions of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
In a written parliamentary reply yesterday (July 3), Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir shared a concerning matter that’s currently happening among university students in Malaysia – the number of tertiary students with HIV is on the rise.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is one of the many STDs that ANYONE can get through unprotected sex or sharing the same injection needles.
According to Dr Zambry, from 2020 to 2023 alone, 865 public and private university students were infected with HIV. The data initially showed a drop in the numbers but it didn’t take long for the number of reported cases to climb back up, and THIS IS CONCERNING.
“In 2020, 214 college students were infected with HIV. This number dropped to 186 in 2021, but rose to 221 in 2022 and 244 in 2023. Among HIV cases in these 4 years, college students accounted for 6.7% to 7.6%.”
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Last year, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said that on average, a number of 8 people contracted HIV in a day in Malaysia. The good news is, Malaysia has succeeded in lowering new infections by up to 50% between 2000 and 2009. The bad news?
The number is not going down as much as expected, and around 3,000 cases of HIV are reported annually, which is not aligned with what they had in mind.
“This is a threat to Malaysia’s ability achieving it’s commitment in ending HIV/AIDS by 2030,” Dr Zaliha said in the Parliament last year.
So, what are the steps that will be taken to fight the deadly (and silent) virus?
Zambry revealed that the Ministry of Higher Education will formulate and implement plans to promote a healthy lifestyle, with particular emphasis on the advocacy, awareness, and prevention of HIV.
Regardless of your age, if you’re sexually active, take the necessary precautions before engaging in sexual activities and get yourself tested regularly. Once HIV is in your body, the virus stays in your body for life, even with medications.
Also read: Māsian Party Girl Who is a Top Student with 3.95 CGPA Makes up to RM50K a Night Excluding Tips
