Stop HIV AIDS

December 1 this year marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Over the past 20 years, World AIDS Day has been established as one of the world’s most successful commemorative days. It is now recognised and observed by millions of people in more than 190 countries around the globe.

The theme STOP AIDS, KEEP THE PROMISE is an appeal to governments, policy-makers and regional health authorities to ensure that they meet the many targets that have been set in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and especially the promise of universal access to HIV treatment, care, support and prevention services by 2010.

This year marks the 22nd year since the first AIDS case was reported in Malaysia. Statistics released by the Ministry of Health recently showed that as of June 2008, a cumulative total of 82,704 HIV infected individuals were reported, of whom 14,133 were notified as AIDS cases and 10,783 have died.

While we have come a long way in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic, more needs to be done as we continue to see more people become infected and more children being left orphaned by this virus.

The Malaysian AIDS Council should be lauded for continuously taking on the lead role within the community to ensure the implementation of effective prevention, treatment and care programme against HIV.

However, this is one battle that cannot be won alone. The fight against HIV/AIDS as has been demonstrated the world over, can only be successful if there is a partnership and collaboration between different parties whether it is in the area of treatment, prevention or care. And no partnership is stronger than close collaboration between the government, corporate sector, NGOs and the community.

We need to re-commit ourselves to the Millennium Development Goal. The MDG is a UN initiative, ratified by all 189 member States of the United Nations in September 2000, for all nations to pursue a set of interconnected development goals by 2015. We are already halfway through the timeframe.

The MDG has 8 goals in all. Malaysia is now vigorously addressing a number of these goals such as eradicating hardcore poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, up to 2006, Malaysia has yet to achieve one important goal, that is, to halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. Without achieving this goal, Malaysia cannot claim to have successfully addressed the deadly disease.

The World AIDS Day celebration today is the perfect platform for us to renew this commitment and to show solidarity for children and adults living with HIV/AIDS as well as to raise awareness on the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, fighting prejudice and improving education.