Red Flag: Escalating HIV Trends Signal Need for New Strategies
[ Back to News Page ] Dated: 10-Oct-2024
PETALING JAYA: The increasing number of new HIV cases among tertiary students is alarming, says Dr. Azizan Abdul Aziz, president of the Malaysian Medical Association (pic).
She stated that the trend shows current preventive measures are insufficient.
“This is a public health issue that demands immediate and coordinated action, including comprehensive sexual health education, increased awareness, and better access to preventive measures.
“It also underscores the importance of targeted public health initiatives,” she said, emphasizing the need to address factors such as education gaps, lack of awareness, and inadequate access to preventive resources like condoms and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
Dr. Azizan also emphasized the role of parenting in preventive efforts.
ALSO READ: More needs to be done to curb the rise in HIV cases among students
She called for inclusive, accurate, and readily available sexual health education to be prioritized.
“Comprehensive education should cover safe sex practices, the importance of regular testing, and the reduction of the stigma associated with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
“Educating students about these topics yields long-term benefits that influence their behavior and health choices well into adulthood,” she added.
She also urged enhanced collaboration between healthcare providers, educational institutions, and community organizations to ensure students have easy access to confidential testing and counseling services.
ALSO READ: Rise in number of HIV cases involving tertiary students since 2021, Dewan Rakyat told
“Creating a supportive environment where students feel safe to seek help and information is essential in combating the spread of HIV,” she said.
Yesterday, the Dewan Rakyat was informed that there had been an increase in new HIV cases among students aged 18 to 25 in public and private higher education institutions.
The Higher Education Ministry, citing figures from the Health Ministry, reported 214 HIV cases involving tertiary students in 2020, followed by a slight reduction to 186 cases in 2021.
However, the number increased to 221 cases in 2022 and 244 cases last year, according to a written reply from the Higher Education Ministry dated July 2.
“The percentage of students from public and private higher education institutions infected with HIV is between 6.7% and 7.6% of the total number of new HIV cases identified in the years mentioned,” it added.
This represents an increase of about 15% in 2022 and approximately 10% in 2023.
The ministry noted that through public universities, it has planned and implemented various advocacy, awareness, and prevention programs related to HIV.
“We are always aware and concerned about the well-being of students, including issues involving health and diseases,” it added.
The ministry also reported that from 2022 until June this year, it held 77 advocacy, awareness, and prevention programs on HIV, involving 22,905 public university students.
This response came after Datuk Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai) inquired about the figures of tertiary students infected with HIV from 2020 to the present.
Both the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) noted that the increasing number of HIV cases was not unique to the tertiary education age group.
Their executive director, Jasmin Jalil, said Malaysia is currently facing a rise in sexual transmission of HIV, which predominantly affects the young population.
He mentioned that stigma remains the biggest barrier for the younger generation in seeking help if affected or at risk of HIV.
“This persists despite advances in HIV science, including PrEP, which effectively prevents sexual transmission of HIV,” he said.
Jasmin added that MAF and MAC are working closely with the Health Ministry to provide high-impact HIV services, including PrEP and self-tests, to those at risk.
“Through partner organizations, we are also working with both private and government higher education institutions to conduct comprehensive HIV awareness programs.
“This helps educate young people about HIV prevention and reduces the stigma associated with it,” he said.
Jasmin also noted that their outreach efforts focus on encouraging young people to regularly test for HIV to know their status.
Public health medicine specialist Prof. Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh pointed out that HIV screenings are conducted in marriage counseling but not in educational institutions.
“Certain high-risk schools may implement screenings, but this can lead to stigma among students.
“Hence, self-reporting or self-referrals can be done. School counselors also need to be aware of the issue,” said Dr. Sharifa, who is with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
To prevent the stigma that may arise from mass health screenings in schools, she proposed testing high-risk groups through discreet information sharing.
“This may include students and trusted groups, including school counselors,” she added.
Dr. Sharifa also emphasized that more attention and risk reduction measures are needed to detect and prevent HIV.
According to the Health Ministry, its latest figures show that there were an estimated 69,589 people living with HIV as of 2022.
Last year, Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni reported 3,177 new HIV cases, with about 77% involving youth aged between 20 and 39, and 90% of them being men.
He said the figures indicate that exposure to HIV infections often begins in school, with approximately 97% of the cases being due to sexual activity.
