Government wants 'zero AIDS-related deaths', says Dr Subra

The government remains committed to pursuing zero AIDS-related deaths, including expanding screening to detect and provide early treatment for HIV cases, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said, among the measures the government has taken is addressing vertical transmission, that is, implementing HIV screening and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for pregnant mothers with infant antiretroviral prophylaxis treatment for newborn infants.

In addition to addressing HIV, prophylaxis treatment is also effective in preventing other infections like tuberculosis, pneumocystis pneumonia and others.

"Since the programme was implemented, the rate of pregnant women diagnosed with HIV is very low at 0.02 per cent to 0.07 per cent while babies infected with HIV through vertical transmission is less than two percent.

"With this treatment, we can see a decrease in deaths over the last five years and it is expected that the number of deaths will continue to decline with expanded access to treatment," he said in conjunction with World Aids Day 2013 today.

In the meantime, the minister said the government had planned to reduce new cases of HIV at a rate of 11 per 100,000 population by 2015.

"In 2012, a total of 3,438 new HIV cases were detected at the rate of 11.7 per 100,000 population, while for the first nine months of this year, 2,564 new cases were reported.

"If projections are made, the number of HIV cases this year is 3,419 or 11.5 per 100,000 and it is likely the target for 2015 can be achieved sooner," he said.