KUALA LUMPUR, August 1 — The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) have issued a call for a comprehensive and integrated strategy to address the overlapping crises of hepatitis and HIV/AIDS, marking World Hepatitis Day 2024. The organizations highlight that people living with HIV (PLHIV) are at a heightened risk of hepatitis, with around 2.3 million globally co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C (HCV), according to the WHO. This intersection of epidemics poses significant challenges, particularly in Malaysia, where the burden of co-infection adds complexity to healthcare delivery.
In their joint efforts, MAC and MAF emphasize the importance of merging treatment protocols and public health campaigns to enhance effectiveness. With over 200 Community Health Workers involved in the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations (DHSKP) Project, the organizations provide essential services such as prevention, screening, and treatment linkage. This holistic approach aims to improve health outcomes, reduce transmission rates, and address the compounded social and psychological challenges faced by those with co-infections. Dr. Raja Iskandar Shah Raja Azwa, President of MAC, underscores the need for unified action to effectively combat these intertwined epidemics and supports regional collaboration to eliminate them by 2030.
