Many Malaysian sailors have HIV

Star: KOTA KINABALU: Malaysian seafarers will be a focus of health training as a substantial number of them are among the identified HIV carriers in the country.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said it was important to focus on this maritime group by providing health and security training to avoid the spread of HIV in the country.
“We cannot deny that the maritime workforce are among carriers of such diseases,” he said at the national-level World Maritime Day 2006 gathering here.
He said the health security training on how to avoid the spread of HIV and AIDS would be given specific focus in line with the International Maritime Organisation objectives.
“Malaysia will look seriously and take appropriate steps to control HIV and AIDS among our maritime workforce,” he said on Saturday.
However, Embas did not disclose the percentage of Malaysian seafarers from the total number of HIV carriers in the country.