Star: The Health Ministry’s decision to implement a harm reduction programme to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS should have been made public only after it was proven to be successful, said outgoing Malaysian AIDS Council president Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir.
In a frank interview with Mingguan Malaysia, she said there was actually no need to announce the programme – which will see the free distribution of needles and condoms to addicts.
“I was told that the minister wanted to 'test the market’. But we cannot test a market which doesn’t really understand the situation.
“We should have carried out the programme quietly while educating society on the matter at the same time,” she said.
Marina said the harm reduction programme should begin at once and on a larger scale, noting that it would not reach those most at risk on time if it were first introduced as a pilot project.
In announcing the programme in September, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek had said the pilot project would start next month. Some religious leaders have since claimed that the move would condone free sex and encourage drug abuse.
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