Love, not shun, AIDS patients

Star: KUCHING: The public has been reminded not to shun HIV/AIDS patients as this may result in their transmitting the disease silently to others.
Red Crescent Society Sarawak nursing superintendent Matron Fu Choon Kee said these people needed to be helped with love and care.
“Counselling will help them to think positively in dealing with the disease,” she said yesterday after the launch of a campaign to commemorate World AIDS Day at the City South Council building here.
Fu, whose voluntary counselling work with HIV/AIDS patients won her the Dr Siti Hasmah Award 2004, said public awareness on HIV/AIDS was still low in the state.
“We have carried out surveys in towns and there are people who ask if Sarawak has AIDS cases,” she said.
Statistics show that of the 554 HIV-positive cases reported to the state Health Department as of Oct 31, 250 developed AIDS and 115 died.
The number of new cases detected among young Sarawakians is on the rise and over 60% of them were infected through heterosexual activities.
Mayor Chan Seng Khai launched the month-long campaign organised by the Red Crescent Stampin Chapter with the theme “Wise up. Wear it. Where is yours?”
The campaign aimed at getting more people to wear red ribbons and spreading knowledge about HIV/AIDS, how to prevent infection and transmission and ways to help patients.