World AIDS Day 2003

In light of the many recent articles in the Star commemorating World AIDS Day, I would like to express my concern of the current HIV/AIDS situation in Malaysia. Every year during World AIDS Day and International AIDS Memorial Day, news of more AIDS cases both globally and nationally are read and heard. There are more stories and images of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Malaysian media then ever before. But where does this all lead up to or achieve? The number of cases has not gone down but has in fact rapidly increased. More young people are infected with HIV every day more often than not due to ignorance of safer sex or of the need to change their behaviour to protect themselves. We have, in fact, perhaps considered it part of life that some people get AIDS. How have we come to this point where it is acceptable or tolerable for more than 7000 people to be infected with HIV and consider it part of everyday life?

Though there is immense attention and effort to improve access and affordability of HIV/ AIDS treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS, there must be equal attention to improve the effectiveness of HIV prevention programmes. With more than 7000 people detected infected with HIV in this year alone and more than 20 new cases a day, Malaysia cannot afford, both in terms of its human and financial resources, to wait for a more appropriate time to act aggressively in preventing the further spread of this disease. Already there are more than 57, 000 reported cases since the epidemic began in the country in 1986. Already we spend millions a year to fund treatment, support and prevention programmes. It is an alarming fact that despite this, more Malaysians are being detected with HIV only after already being infected for a number of years.

It is an assumption and erroneous to say that most people are already aware of how the virus is transmitted or how it is not transmitted. There has been no study done by the Malaysian AIDS Council or the Ministry of Health that has captured the Malaysian public's current state of perception and knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The Durex Global Sex Survey stands as the only existing barometer of knowledge, attitude and perception of Malaysians towards sexual reproductive health, sexual behaviour practices, STDs and HIV/AIDS. The latest survey indicates that fifty percent of young people would have sexual intercourse without condoms despite the possibility of STD and HIV infection.

Without these studies, there is no way to determine properly what has been done right and what has been done wrong.

As such, what needs to be done now is to minimise the talking and criticizing and get on with determining what needs to be done and actually doing it.

The HIV/ AIDS community, including those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS, must stand united together and be courageous to voice out and bring forth their issues to the Government. 57, 000 voices must not stay silent.

There most be more emphasis and importance on HIV/AIDS prevention. Existing HIV prevention programmes such as the Ministry of Health's PROSTAR programme must continue to be supported both by the Government and AIDS NGOs for improvement and further expansion.

The Malaysian AIDS Council must self reflect, examine and improve the effectiveness of its own HIV/AIDS programmes after 11 years and especially, having received RM 4 million in 2003 from the Government.

There must be acknowledgement of the doctors and nurses, and the women and men of the Ministry of Health's AIDS/ STD Unit for their untiring efforts and personal commitments to fighting HIV/ AIDS in the country for the past 17 years.

Let's not wait for a magic number or a loved one becomes infected with HIV to be involved. All of us must break the silence surrounding the epidemic and help prevent the spread of HIV/ AIDS in Malaysia.