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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg |
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Speech by Dr Balaji Sadasivan,
Senior Minister of State at Standard Chartered Bank's Living with
HIV - Be Aware, Be Safe Presentation 16 Aug 2006 |
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An Excerpt |
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The first case of HIV in Singapore was
diagnosed in 1985, more than 20 years ago. |
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Since then, the figures have continued to
climb and as at end-December 2005, the cumulative number of people
reported with HIV in Singapore had reached 2,641... |
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AIDS and HIV infection continue to be a
serious issue locally, regionally and internationally. UNAIDS estimates
that about 40 million people around the world are infected with HIV. In
the African continent alone, there are 25 million people who are
HIV-positive while in Asia, the number is more than 8 million. |
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Young people globally and in Singapore
continue to be vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections. |
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By the end of last year, more than 40 young
Singaporeans aged 19 and below have been reported as HIV-positive. |
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Between 1985 and 2005, more than 470 persons
were in the 20 - 29 age group when they were diagnosed with HIV. It is
very likely that some of these 20 - 29 year-olds were infected in their
teenage years as persons may not know that they have HIV infection for
many years as there are no symptoms initially. |
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What is even more alarming is the number of
sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, genital herpes and
warts being seen in our young. The number has increased almost 3-fold
from over 250 cases in 2002 to more than 650 cases in 2004, in young
people aged 10 to 19 (figures from DSC Clinic). |
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This increase is worrying because
those affected are young Singaporeans, many of whom are still in
school. |
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It is a tragedy when a young person,
full of life and potential, becomes limited by a positive
diagnosis of HIV. |
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The situation worsens if the infected
person unknowingly spreads HIV to other young people by engaging
in casual sex or sex with multiple partners. |
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While it is natural for young people
to be curious about sex, they also need to be aware of the
consequences of engaging in pre-marital sex, namely unwanted
pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, or even worse, HIV
which eventually leads to death. |
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HIV/AIDS is not a problem that will go
away by itself and we cannot choose to bury our heads and pretend
that the problem does not exist or will not affect us. |
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The spread of HIV/AIDS is not a battle
which the Ministry of Health can fight alone. It needs the support
and cooperation of the community - parents, schools, religious
leaders, NGOs, workplaces and the media... |
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Full Text of Speech |
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Source:
www.moh.gov.sg News 16 Aug
2006 |
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FrontPage Edition: Thu 17 August 2006
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