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"Stigma hampering fight against
HIV/AIDS"
The
Star (www.thestar.com.my)
(19/12/05)
MANY people living with HIV/AIDS do not seek treatment as they would rather
go into hiding to avoid social stigma.
Community Aids Service Penang (CASP) chairman P.R. Selvarajan said these
people often lived in fear of rejection and condemnation from the public.
“Despite an estimated 70,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country,
sadly, most Malaysians don't see this as a serious matter.
“They feel that it is somebody else's problem and not theirs.
“It is this indifferent attitude that is an obstacle when containing the
spread of the virus,” he said.
He said the public could make a difference if they were not judgemental in
their approach towards HIV/AIDS patients.
“Not every patient is a drug user or sex worker,” he said at the launching
of Penang's World Aids Day 2005 celebration by state Local Government,
Traffic Management, Information and Com-munity Relations Committee chairman
Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan at Tesco recently.
The celebration included an AIDS/HIV exhibition and a mini charity food
fair.
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