HIV cases in Malaysia drop by 50% in 10 years

Dr. Lee Boon Chye, deputy Health minister of Malaysia (Photo from his Facebook page)

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia — The number of new HIV cases in Malaysia has dropped by 50 percent in the past 10 years.

Deputy Health Minister Dr. Lee Boon Chye attributed the success to the strong partnership ties Health Ministry established with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), led by Malaysian AIDS Council and Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF).

He is of the view that, in order to achieve the target of zero-AIDS by 2030, the government and NGOs would be required to continue with strategic collaborative partnership ties where prevention of AIDS is in the forefront as main task.

“We will continue our commitment to providing leadership, guidance and resources to our NGO partners for high-impact evidence-based HIV/AIDS programming specific to key populations,” he said at the Red Ribbon Media Awards 2018 organized by MAF in conjunction with its 25th anniversary. “We recognize the need for increased funding beyond the current RM7 million [$1.75 million] annual allocation for NGO-led interventions and improved investments to address sexual health.”

Also present were Prof. Datuk Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, MAF chairman , and Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, health director-general.

MAF presented Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Media Awards to producers of Astro, BFM89.9 and TRAXX fm.

The winners of Web-based Media Awards are Anne and Wan Nur Izzati Wan Mohd Nor Zaida from MyKampus TV. /atm