Call to set up PROSTAR club for Sabah youths

Daily Express:A WORRISOME trend of 19 new cases of HIV and AIDS are detected in the country each day, according to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin, citing statistics from the Malaysia AIDS Council.
"When HIV and AIDS were first detected in Malaysia in December 1986, there were only three reported HIV cases and one reported AIDS cases. Cumulative figures up to December 2004 indicate a total of 64,439 reported HIV and AIDS cases.
"What is saddening is that the majority of HIV and AIDS sufferers in the country are those in the 20-39 age range.
Reported HIV infections by age groups between December 1986 and March this year show that those in the 20-29 age group constitute 36.1 while those in the 30-39 age group make up 42.8 per cent of the total cases," he said when closing the seminar.
Yahya said about 1,500 people die of AIDS each day in Asia.
Yahya who is also Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs noted that 75 per cent of the reported number of HIV and AIDS cases in the country are from among drug addicts who share needles for intravenous injections.
"Hence, the Government-sponsored 'Harm Reduction' Programme in the form of condom distribution and injection needle exchange, is most timely.
Contaminated needles are given up by drug users in exchange for new ones to prevent the spread of the deadly virus to non-infected persons."
From his observation, factors like ignorance, lack of preventive measures, inadequate medical facilities, low level of cleanliness and superstitious beliefs invariably contribute to the spreading of HIV and AIDS, and loss of more human lives.
Yahya stressed that reproductive health is the most valuable asset to human beings for development of the future generation.
"We must leave no stone unturned in our efforts to wage war on the killer - HIV and AIDS."
However, the Deputy Chief Minister lamented that society, particularly young people, have a low level of awareness on sexual and reproductive health.
He said this causes them to be vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV and AIDS, and also leads to unintended pregnancies.
In this respect, Yahya called for the formation of the PROSTAR Club in Sabah to assist the authorities in addressing the HIV/AIDS problem. PROSTAR stands for Program Sihat Tanpa AIDS untuk Remaja (or Healthy without AIDS for Youth Programme).
He noted that the Federal Government had taken the initiative to set up such club in each district and region as a catalyst for youth groups to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge. Launched in 1996, its concept is "Action by Youth, through Youth and for Youth".
Also present was the ministry's Permanent Secretary, Michael Emban.
Earlier, MPWS Chairperson Datin Asnimar Hj Sukardi said the increase in the number of cases involving women and youth in the country by 13 per cent last year prompted the council to organise the seminar through its implementing agency, Sabah Women's Affairs Department.
Based on statistics from the Ministry of Health, she noted that there has been a steady increase in the number of HIV infections and AIDS cases from 1986 until March this year.
"As at December last year, cumulative number of HIV/AIDS cases was 64,439 and by March this year, the figure had risen to 65,370." The seminar was held to mark World AIDS Day this year. The theme for the Malaysian version is 'Women, Youth & AIDS'.
Responding to a request from the participants that a similar seminar be held at departmental level, MPWS Health Committee Chairperson, Dr Maria Suleiman who was the Organising Chairperson said they could write in officially to the Department of Health.
"We would be pleased to send our speakers and even the voluntary anonymous HIV screening team."