KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded a 54% decrease in new HIV infections from 2002 to 2024, according to Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister stated in a written parliamentary reply that in 2024, a total of 3,185 new HIV cases were reported, showing a slight decrease compared to 3,222 cases in 2023.
"In terms of HIV cases transmitted through homosexual or bisexual contact, 2,037 cases were reported in 2024, representing a 2% increase compared with 1,995 cases in 2023," he said in reply to a question raised by Zulkifli bin Ismail (PN-Jasin)
Zulkifli had asked the Health Ministry to state the latest statistics and year-on-year comparison of HIV patients among the LGBTQ community by category, as well as HIV patients resulting from drug abuse.
According to the Health Minister, new HIV infections linked to the sharing of contaminated needles and syringes among drug users have dropped significantly from 66% (4,038 cases) in 2005 to 2.7% (87 cases) in 2023, and further to 2.4% (77 cases) in 2024 following the implementation of the harm reduction programme in 2005/2006.
Previously, health experts have called for bolder measures to curb the spread of HIV, especially among the youth and students.
The experts have recommended that prevention efforts be improved by adopting more targeted, youth-friendly and stigma-free strategies to reach those most at risk, and authorities must move away from generic, moralistic and untargeted prevention messages.
