KOTA BAHARU, Oct 2 – The executive director of the Malaysian Aids Council, Dr Ilias Adam Yee said the number of HIV cases in the country has drastically dropped since the Injection Tools and Needle exchange programme and the Methadone Replacement Therapy programme were introduced in 2006.
“Last year, the rate of HIV infections was 11.69 per 100,000 people compared to 21.88 per 100,000 in 2006. When we introduced the programme, the number of new HIV cases dropped drastically since the highest number of HIV transmissions was through the sharing of injection tools and needles,” Dr Ilias Adam told reporters after attending a briefing in conjunction with the Harm Reduction International Media Field Trip here on Thursday.
“Among the main objectives of the programme was to reduce the spread of HIV infections and other diseases spread through the blood such as hepatitis in Malaysia. When we distribute the needles, we interact with the clients and build a rapport with them so that they can come back to seek treatment. MAC has distributed 5,153,578 needles to 83,608 clients registered with the association,” said Dr Ilias Adam.
Also present were the president of the Saudara Kita Welfare Association (SAHABAT) Tan Sri Mohd Zaman Khan Rahim, director of the Kelantan Health Department Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir and deputy head of the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division at the Kelantan police headquarters, DSP Roslan Yusof.
In the same time, the Injection Tools and Needle had also been exchanged the programme and the Methadone Replacement Therapy Programme are the part of the Harm Reduction Programme which launched jointly by the Health Ministry and MAC in 2006.
