Background and Rationale for the Program
Since 1986 when the first infection in Malaysia was diagnosed, HIV has been recognized as a serious public health issue and a development challenge. In 2018, there were an estimated 87,122 HIV cases across Malaysia. Modelled estimates indicate that the sustained efforts made by government and NGO stakeholders have significantly reduced the rate of infections from some 20,000 infections in 1991 to an estimated 5,700 annual infections in 2016.
The epidemic in Malaysia is concentrated among key populations including men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex worker (FSW), transgender (TG), and people who inject drugs (PWID). The epidemic has transitioned from injecting behaviours as the primary mode of transmission to sexual transmission. In 2017, MSM accounted for 51% of all new estimated infections reporting an increased HIV prevalence of approximately 21.6%.
In line with the 90-90-90 targets, Malaysia is aiming to diagnose 90% of people living with HIV, ensure 90% of those who are diagnosed access antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 90% of those in treatment achieve viral suppression. The National Strategy to End AIDS 2016-2030 (NSPEA) guides efforts towards achieving these goals.
The Ministry of Health initiated the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) in 1992 to coordinate the HIV response among key populations, through needle and syringe exchange program, outreach program for key populations, HIV Continuum Care Home, Treatment Adherence Program (TAPS), community-based testing and key population-friendly Government clinics (KK clinic model). The Global Fund (GF) has been funding Malaysia since 2011 to help the country address HIV among key populations through MAC. In 2015, the GF grant supported an HIV Case Management Program focusing on reaching key populations with HIV testing and linking them to treatment, care and support. An evaluation of the Case Management Program conducted in 2018 proposed important adjustments and improvements to the programs, including its integration with the Government-funded TAPS program in order to provide more differentiated and better-quality HIV services to key populations.
Goals
Objectives
Instruction
Date: 30 May 2019
Time: 11.00am to 2.00pm
Venue: Federation of Reproductive Health Associations, Malaysia (FRHAM) Training Centre, 81-B, Jalan SS 15/5a, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor