HIV/AIDS claim 16,742 lives in Malaysia since 1986

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has claimed 16,742 lives of Malaysian people since it was detected in the country in 1986 until June this year.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said according to the Malaysia Global AIDS Response Progress Report 2014, a total of 101,672 cases with 16,340 deaths were recorded among HIV/AIDS patients between 1986 and 2013.

Between January and June this year, 1,676 cases of HIV and 598 cases of AIDS with 402 deaths were recorded, she said after opening the Seminar on HIV/AIDS and Women here on Wednesday.

Azizah said of the total number of cases recorded this year, 1,337 of the patients were men.

In Sabah, she said 133 HIV cases and 53 AIDS cases with 22 deaths were recorded between January and June this year.

Azizah said HIV infection among women had increased as there were 728 new cases recorded this year from the 3,393 cases recorded nationwide last year.

The deputy minister said her ministry had channeled over RM13 million to 15 HIV/AIDS shelter homes to help 341 patients nationwide.

"Among the aid and assistance channeled to the homes were daily care to bedridden patients, hospital reference, counseling, religious classes, tuition, community integration and helping the patients to return to their families," she added.