Re-routing the HIV focus to women

Awareness drive: Every Malaysian – men, women and transgendered – must be provided with knowledge about HIV /AIDS and access to know their status and get tested early.

EFFORTS in combating HIV/AIDS in Malaysia have shown promising success whereby the rate of HIV transmission in the general population is at 0.05%, with the number of AIDS-related deaths steadi­ly on the decline.

The National Harm Reduction Programme, Antenatal HIV screening and the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission, and the availability of free antiretroviral treatment (ART) at public hospitals have all contributed to this success.