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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg |
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HIV CASES ON THE RISE IN 2007
- MOH urges at-risk groups to go for voluntary testing |
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In the first 10 months of 2007
(Jan-October), there were a total of 356 reported new HIV cases in
Singapore. In comparison, there were 357 HIV cases notified for the
whole of 2006. It can be expected that the total number of notified HIV
cases in 2007 will exceed that of last year. |
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Regular HIV testing can help limit the
spread of the disease. This is especially crucial for people who engage
in risky sexual behaviour. HIV testing is available in most medical
clinics. The identities of persons who come forward for testing and
those who are found to be HIV positive will be kept strictly
confidential. |
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To encourage more to come forward for
voluntary testing, MOH has since August allowed medical clinics to offer
HIV testing using oral-fluid or blood-based rapid HIV test kits. These
rapid HIV tests are screening tests that can produce results in
approximately 20 minutes. |
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Medical clinics that wish to offer HIV
testing with rapid HIV test kits must first participate in an MOH
training workshop on the use of these test kits. To date, close to 200
clinics have participated in these and nearly 100 clinics are currently
offering HIV testing with rapid HIV test kits. |
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Anonymous HIV testing using rapid HIV test
kits is also available in three sites in Singapore – 2 GP clinics (Anteh
Dispensary and Cambridge Clinic) and the Action for AIDS anonymous HIV
test site. |
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Between January and September 2007, a total
of 5,967 anonymous HIV tests were carried out at the three sites,
compared to a total of 3,416 anonymous HIV tests between July and Dec
last year. |
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As more HIV testing is carried out, we would
expect an increasing number of new HIV cases to be notified to MOH.
However, this does not necessarily mean that there are more new
infections. |
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As people who are infected with HIV may not
present with symptoms for several years, people who are newly detected
to have HIV may in fact have acquired their infection several years ago. |
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With HIV testing made more convenient, MOH
hopes to see a decrease in the number of people who present in
late-stage HIV infection. |
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In the first 6 months of 2007, more than
half (55%) of the new cases already had late-stage HIV infection when
they were diagnosed, similar to the pattern seen in 2006. This
underscores the importance of people who are at risk of HIV infection
going for regular HIV testing, as early diagnosis and treatment can help
to significantly delay the onset of AIDS and reduce the risk of death. |
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New cases of HIV infection reported
between July through October 2007 |
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Between July and October 2007, another 192
new HIV cases were reported. These are in addition to the 164 cases
reported earlier in the first 6 months of 2007. giving a total of 356
cases from Jan to October 2007. The additional new cases are currently
undergoing further investigation, and more information on them will be
released at a later date. |
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MOH regularly updates information on new HIV
cases on its website. Data for the first 6 months of 2007 is reproduced
in Annex A. |
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How individuals and employers can help
prevent HIV |
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Public education and prevention of new cases
of HIV infection is the key to controlling the HIV epidemic in
Singapore. Individuals must take responsibility to protect themselves
from HIV infection. |
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Those who engage in risky sexual behaviour
are strongly encouraged to use condoms to protect themselves from HIV
infection and to go for regular HIV testing. Examples of risky sexual
behaviour include: |
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(a) having unprotected
sex with someone who is HIV-infected or who is at high risk of being
infected with HIV, such as men who have sex with men, and commercial sex
workers and their clients; and
(b) having unprotected
sex with multiple partners. |
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As the statistics showed that 90% of newly
diagnosed HIV cases are in the economically productive age groups of
20-59 years, MOH strongly encourages employers to adopt a more
pro-active role in HIV prevention at the workplace. Suitable HIV/AIDS
prevention and education programmes can be introduced at the workplace
to reach this target group. |
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One example is the programme, entitled
RESPECT (Rallying Employers to Support the Prevention, Education and
Control of STI/HIV/AIDS) which was developed by the Health Promotion
Board in 2004. |
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The programme equips working adults with
skills to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, and also seeks to educate
them about HIV/AIDS so as to reduce discrimination and stigmatization of
people living with HIV/AIDS. |
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For more information about HIV testing,
visit the HPB website at
http://www.hpb.gov.sg/aids/page6.htm. |
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For more information about the workplace
HIV/AIDS programme, contact the Health Promotion Board at HPB_CDE@hpb.gov.sg,
Tel: 6435-3178. |
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More..... |
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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg Press Release
30 Nov 2007 |
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Related Article: |
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More than 40 Singaporeans aged 19 and below HIV-positive |
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