KUALA LUMPUR, 27 January 2014 – The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) welcomes the Ministry of Health’s proposal to introduce new measures to stem the rising number of sexually transmitted HIV infections.

In a statement published in the New Straits Times today titled ‘Free HIV screenings in clinics’, the Ministry outlined two programmes that would be undertaken in a bid to reduce sexual transmission of HIV by 30 per cent in five years; namely the provision of free HIV screening tests at 1Malaysia clinics and formation of the National Task Force on Mitigation of Sexual Transmission of HIV/AIDS.

MAC President Datuk Dr. Raj Karim said, “We applaud the Ministry of Health for its efforts in spearheading the response to sexual transmission of HIV, in much the same way it did when introducing the Harm Reduction programme for injecting drug users in 2006. Sex is a decidedly more complex issue compared to drugs, and while it remains a highly taboo subject in our society, we are pleased to see that the Ministry is addressing it head-on.”

With sexual transmission accounting for more than 64 per cent of new HIV infections in 2012, which is double the figure reported five years prior, the National Task Force on Mitigation of Sexual Transmission of HIV/AIDS is indeed timely and a step in the right direction as MAC strives to accelerate its efforts to reverse the trend of the epidemic.

Datuk Raj added that MAC and its civil society partners look to use the National Task Force on Mitigation of Sexual Transmission of HIV/AIDS as a platform to collaborate with the Ministry and other government agencies on the development of programmes and policies that would improve access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for key affected populations.

MAC also supports the proposal to introduce free HIV screenings at 1Malaysia clinics, especially the idea to provide the services after hours. According to Datuk Raj, such considerations will have a positive impact on the uptake of HIV testing services, provided that the HIV tests are conducted in a manner that protects the anonymity and confidentiality of the clients; and that the clients are given pre and post test counseling, and directed to appropriate HIV treatment, care and support services if they are found to be positive.

“Above all this, we couldn’t emphasise enough the importance of continuous targeted HIV education and prevention for key affected populations, and strengthening partnerships with civil society and NGO health service providers to ensure seamless linkages with those of the Government’s,” she added.

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