Materia Medica Malaysiana

HIV/AIDS trend disturbing Up to 4,000 may be infected this year

SOME 4,000 Malaysians could be infected with HIV this year if there is no awareness in the society about its dangers and threats, Berita Harian reported.
Datuk Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said the statistics on HIV/AIDS given by the Health Ministry were “very depressing.”
“According to the statistics, there are about 20 new HIV cases reported every day in the country, of which, three are confirmed as AIDS.
“Up to today, 58,000 Malaysians have been infected with HIV, of whom 6,545 are confirmed to be suffering from AIDS.
“This is a very disturbing and sad as more than 75% of the total involves those between the ages of 13 and 39,” she said.
The daily said it was estimated that two people die every day because of AIDS and related complications.