26-04-2025
Malaysian AIDS Council: Increasing rate of HIV cases among students
KUALA LUMPUR: HIV infections among university and school students are on the rise, with most contracting the virus through sexual activity.
Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) honorary secretary Dr Zaiton Yahaya said those aged between 20 and 29 accounted for 44 per cent of individuals detected with HIV.
"As for school students aged 13 to 19, four per cent were confirmed to have contracted HIV, with the majority infected through sexual activity.
"The highest number of cases are among school leavers and university graduates, who are largely unaware of the risks of infection. However, cases of HIV transmission through drug use are decreasing, as we have consistently carried out awareness programmes on the dangers of sharing needles.
"Due to the increasing rate of sexually transmitted HIV infections, we have stepped up awareness initiatives to ensure patients know where to seek help and support," she said after the Aidilfitri Open House with the community and the launch of the ProtectNow Hub organised by MAC and MAF here today.
Zaiton said that due to the significant rise in cases among young people, various awareness programmes on HIV infections have been conducted in schools and universities.
According to the latest statistics from the Health Ministry, a total of 135,035 HIV patients have been recorded from 1986 to 2023, with 54,365 cases resulting from sexual transmission.
There have been eight new cases of HIV infection involving children under the age of 13.
The latest records show that 62 per cent of HIV infections were among homosexual and bisexual individuals, while 33 per cent were among heterosexual partners.
Meanwhile, MAC and MAF have launched the ProtectNow Hub, the first digital HIV prevention services platform in Malaysia.
ProtectNow Hub was developed through collaboration between public health experts, community organisations, and young people.
Since its introduction, the platform has received over 74,000 visits from individuals seeking easily accessible, safe, and community-oriented healthcare services.
The platform provides immediate access to a variety of essential services such as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), HIV self-testing, mental health support, and addiction recovery services.
Zaiton said that with its inclusive digital approach, ProtectNow Hub aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health, free from stigma and misinformation.
"We are facing a major shift in HIV infections, with an increasing number of new cases among young people and target communities.
"ProtectNow represents a new, youth-centred, community-led, and digitally driven approach for the future," she said.
