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"AIDS at a critical level"
The
Star (www.thestar.com.my)
(17/06/05)
A
needle exchange and free condoms pilot programme for drug addicts to curb
the spread of HIV/AIDS will be implemented because the situation has reached
an emergency level, the Prime Minister said. “This is not a waste but if
there are better suggestions the Government is prepared to consider them,”
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Malaysian journalists after attending
the Second South Summit of G77 and China which ended here yesterday.
Abdullah said information sessions on the programme would be held as soon as
possible for those who opposed the move. Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi
Lek would be present at the meetings, he added.
He
said the move for needle exchange and free condoms had to be carried out
because Chua had confirmed at a Cabinet meeting recently that the HIV/AIDS
situation had reached a critical level as the affected group was still
actively involved in drug addiction and sex. Abdullah said that if these
people were not given syringe and condom aid they might spread the disease
to their wives or partners. “This is dangerous because it will spread the
disease,” he said.
As the
situation had reached a level where it posed a danger to the people because
the disease could be spread easily, the Government felt compelled to adopt
this approach to solve the problem, he added. “If we don’t want the
infection to escalate, if we want to curb the spread, we must take
appropriate measures,” Abdullah said. From the religious point of view, he
added, the proposal could be taken as a preventive measure in an emergency.
Chua
had earlier announced that the pilot programme would be implemented at 10
government and private clinics in October and would involve 1,200 drug
addicts.
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