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"Condoms, needles plan
set to take off"
New
Straits Times (www.nst.com.my)
(14/06/05)
The
controversial plan to issue condoms and needles to halt the spread of HIV
among drug users looks set to take off. All Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua
Soi Lek has to do is convince influential religious leaders next week that
the alternative to the scheme is unthinkable. "Together with the minister in
charge of religious affairs, I will meet the ulamas. We will tell them that
what we are doing is to prevent the spread of the disease to a worrying
stage," he said.
Dr
Chua said under the plan slated to start in October, 130,000 intravenous
drug users would be given clean needles. More than 70 per cent of this group
who are sexually active will be given condoms. This harm reduction regime
will save 90,000 Malaysians from being infected with HIV/AIDS. "This will
save the Government RM500 million a year in terms of treatment with drugs
alone," he said.
Many religious groups have shot down the idea, saying that giving condoms
will only encourage sexual promiscuity. Dr Chua said that condoms would only
be given to a targeted group of people — drug users, and will be under close
supervision by trained professionals. The latest figures show that 64,439
people were infected with HIV. If nothing is done to curb the spread of the
disease, the number of HIV cases will escalate to 300,000 by 2015.
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