Latest news with #HIV-related
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Not a 'gay party' but a HIV awareness event
KUALA LUMPUR: The so-called "gay party" raided by Kelantan police last month was actually an HIV awareness programme. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, in a tweet last night, shared a statement from the Kelantan Health Department which said the event was part of outreach activities. The event was organised by Sahabat, an NGO operating under the guidance of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF). The statement said Sahabat has been a strategic partner of the department since 2006 in implementing health education and field activities targeting high-risk populations, including intravenous drug users and men who have sex with men (MSM). In his tweet, Dzulkefly said collaborations between the ministry, state health departments, and NGOs were crucial in reaching high-risk populations to raise awareness on prevention strategies, the importance of early diagnosis, and the benefits of early treatment in preventing serious complications. "Health education is also important to improve health literacy and to protect close contacts, such as wives and children, who are at risk of contracting HIV. "The ministry remains committed to a public health approach that prioritises disease prevention, early intervention, and access to treatment for all, in line with the country's health policy according to religious values and cultural sensitivity." It was reported that on June 17, police raided the programme at 1am, seizing HIV medication and condoms. Kelantan police chief Datuk Yusoff Mamat said the operation followed public tip-offs and intelligence gathered by a special team after complaints about a food-themed event allegedly organised for the gay community. However, several NGOs rejected claims that it was a "gay party", saying the event aimed to provide sexual health and HIV-related information, distribute condoms, and offer voluntary testing to encourage safer sexual practices. The Malaysian AIDS Council, which was involved, added that the late-night session was due to confidential HIV testing, which takes 10 to 15 minutes per client, with those testing reactive given counselling and referred for follow-up care. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat subsequently defended the raid, saying it was based on strong evidence.
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Health event was misrepresented as 'gay party', say rights group
PETALING JAYA: A recent police raid in Kelantan, initially labelled as a "gay party," was actually a health event, claims rights group Justice for Sisters. The group is urging the Kelantan police to verify and correct any misinformation they disseminated regarding the event. The incident, which was widely reported, sparked quick discriminatory remarks against LGBTQ individuals from various quarters, increasing fears of further discrimination and marginalisation. "Justice for Sisters' documentation of the event is completely different from the police's account," the group stated. According to the group, the event was a health initiative providing sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to promote safer sexual practices. Healthcare providers were present to deliver health talks. By midnight, the event was winding down, with about 20 individuals awaiting their test results. "None of them provided sexual services at the event or were there to provide sexual services. The attendees were at the event to seek sexual health information and tests," the group clarified. Contrary to police claims, no attendees paid a fee to attend, nor was the event promoted on social media. Justice for Sisters also noted that although police tested the remaining attendees for drug use, all results were negative. However, three individuals were arrested for possessing intimate content, which the group maintains are trumped-up charges. The raid has heightened fears among LGBTQ individuals about seeking health services or attending similar events in the future. The group highlighted that police have generally refrained from raiding health events targeting marginalised groups, as such actions counter public health goals. Expressing concern about this re-emerging trend, Justice for Sisters urged the Health Ministry to investigate. "Such raids and threats to health centres have a deterring effect on health-seeking behaviour among marginalised populations," they said. The group also documented human rights violations by the police during the raid, including privacy breaches and degrading treatment of attendees. They called for police to adopt a compassionate and professional approach to ensure the rights of marginalised groups are protected.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Police defend raid as NGOs dispute LGBT event claims
KOTA BARU: Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat today said the raid on a gathering involving over 100 individuals from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community was based on strong evidence. "Let them say what they want, but we the police have the evidence that led to the operation," he said in a brief WhatsApp message to the New Straits Times. Mohd Yusoff's remarks come after a coalition of 31 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals rejected police claims that the mid-June raid targeted a "gay sex party". They insisted that the event was, in fact, a legitimate HIV awareness and health outreach session. In a joint statement yesterday, the coalition dismissed the police's narrative surrounding the raid in Kota Baru last month, which had been widely reported in local media. They said documentation by Justice for Sisters (JFS) clearly contradicted the police's version of events. "Contrary to allegations that it was a 'same-sex sex party', the programme was actually a health event," the statement said. "It provided sexual health and HIV-related information, condoms, and voluntary testing to encourage safer sexual practices." The event, which began at 8pm, included a health talk conducted in collaboration with healthcare providers, including doctors. By midnight, the programme was winding down, although around 20 participants were reportedly still at the venue awaiting their test results. Meanwhile, JFS called on the police to correct misinformation related to the alleged "gay party". "We urge Kelantan police to verify the accuracy of the information shared with the media about the raid on the alleged gay party in June 2025," the group said. "The incident drew swift and discriminatory remarks against LGBT people from both state and non-state actors, fuelling fear of further discrimination, violence and marginalisation." JFS maintained that its own documentation painted a vastly different picture from that presented by police. "Among the key inaccuracies was the allegation that the event was a 'gay sex party' — in reality, it was a health-focused initiative." The statement also clarified that none of the attendees were there to provide sexual services. "Participants were present to access sexual health information and testing. The claim that they paid to attend the event is false — it was a free, community-based health initiative aimed at increasing access to healthcare for marginalised groups." JFS further disputed police claims that the event was promoted on social media. "This too is inaccurate," it added.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Kelantan police raid 'gay party' in Kemumin
KOTA BARU: Kelantan police raided a 'gay party' involving over 100 men aged between 20 and 30 at a bungalow in Kemumin in mid-June. Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the raid was conducted at 1 am following public information and surveillance by a special team. "When we arrived at the bungalow, there were only about 20 men left. "Initial investigations revealed they had not yet engaged in any sexual activities, but preparations were underway," he said at a press conference after officiating the Monthly Assembly at the Kelantan Police Contingent Headquarters on Thursday (July 17). He stated that further inspection of the bungalow uncovered hundreds of condoms and HIV-related drugs. He added that questioning revealed they admitted to being part of the gay community and organising the event for free, promoted via social media. "Three individuals were found in possession of homosexual pornographic material and are being investigated under Section 292 of the Penal Code. "Meanwhile, statements were taken from the others. Some admitted to offering same-sex services and being HIV0positive. Among them were also civil servants," he said. He emphasised that Kelantan police take this matter seriously and will continue to monitor the group's activities.
The Print
13-07-2025
- Health
- The Print
UNAIDS 2025 report warns of funding gaps in fight against HIV as India battles stigma, discrimination
Also, in India, more than 80 percent of surveyed women aged between 15 and 49 years were reported between 2020 and 2024 to lack autonomy over their sexual choices and reproductive healthcare. Additionally, over 90 percent of them lacked information about contraceptive use. The report titled 'AIDS, Crisis And The Power To Transform', released on 10 July, also highlights that the prevalence of intimate partner violence among partnered or married women living with HIV in the same age group in India stood at 24 percent—just 10 percent less than Liberia, where the prevalence was found to be highest globally. The figures are based on data from 2020-2024. New Delhi: The 2025 Global AIDS Update by UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) shows that 30 percent of people surveyed in the 15-49 age group in India reported facing HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The 2025 update notes the impact that massive funding cuts by international donors are having on countries most affected by HIV, and how the threat of a funding crisis may hurt global progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS unless countries alter their programming. According to the UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, the Global HIV response shows a decline of newly HIV infected persons by 40 percent, and of 56 percent deaths since 2010. However, the withdrawal of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the biggest contributor to global response, may lead to 6 million additional people being infected, and an additional 4 million deaths by 2029. The funding crisis has disrupted treatment and prevention programmes around the world, the report says. But it also points to the emergence of new prevention tools, like Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 'which has shown near-complete efficacy in clinical trials'. It can prevent HIV with injection doses twice a year. The manufacturer of Lenacapavir, Gilead Sciences, has licenced six generic manufacturers, of which Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Emcure, Hetero, and Mylan—subsidiary of Viatris—operate in India. However, affordability and access are still big challenges. According to the report, in terms of region-wise distribution, Eastern and Southern Africa saw the highest new HIV infections in 2024 at 37 percent, the lowest being in the Caribbean at one percent. In Asia and the Asia Pacific, of which India is a part, the figure stands at 23 percent. With respect to people living with HIV in 2024, the highest was reported in Eastern and Southern Africa at 52 percent, or 21.1 million. The lowest number of people was in the Caribbean—one percent, or 3,40,000. In Asia and Asia Pacific, the number was 17 percent, or 6.9 million. India is among the 13 of the 35 reporting countries that have reached safe injecting targets—90 percent using sterile equipment at last injection. It is clubbed with South Africa, Thailand and Brazil under Low-Dependency Countries in the matrix of dependency on PEPFAR funding. The report also mentions that social enterprises help diversify revenue resources. In India, the Mist LGBTQ Foundation runs an online platform to market merchandise, and offer HIV self-testing and PrEP consultations, either free or at a low rate. Another organisation, the Network of Maharashtra People Living with HIV TAAL+ Pharmacy sells antiretroviral and other medicines at discounted prices via corporate social responsibility partnerships. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Bringing dramatic drop in TB deaths, how TN set an example for rest of India with one-of-a-kind model
