THE problem of HIV and AIDS is certainly something that cannot be ignored by anyone. It is unfortunate that in this country, we tend to have people who are oblivious – or perhaps, choose not to be aware – of this epidemic.
When it was revealed by the Deputy Health Minister recently that three people had died of AIDS while 19 new cases were detected daily, it certainly caught much media attention. But in reality how far does the public take note of thesealarming statistics? Talking to several friends, I have gathered that most are not alarmed.
One said that our situation is not like that of certain countries in the African continent. Another attributed the recent attention as being symptomatic of the media – jumping on “sensational issues” so as to sell their newspapers.
Most, however, are indifferent. To them, as long as it does not happen to them or their immediate family members, then it is not their problem. Whose problem is it then? The fact of the matter is that treating people with HIV and AIDS is one expensive endeavour. Most of the cost would certainly come from the government’s
coffers, which in turn partly comes from taxpayers’ money. Would that not make the HIV and AIDS problem ours?
We, as Malaysians, are always proud of the fact that we are a caring society. This is true when we see contributions pouring in when there is an appeal for help. But how caring are Malaysians when it comes to
facing people with HIV and AIDS?
It is often the case that HIV and AIDS are seen as diseases of certain segments of society. This stereotypical view held by many could be the reason why many of us are unsympathetic towards resolving this problem.
Logically we cannot risk waiting for the HIV and AIDS problem to blow up into catastrophic proportion before we do something about it. By then, it would be all too late.
The first AIDS case in the country was reported in December 1986. It is nearly two decades since then and things have not improved. On the contrary, the situation is getting critical.
Based on the statistics provided by the Deputy Health Minister, 1,098 people would have died of HIV and AIDS while 6,954 new cases would have been reported by the end of this year.
Amongst the Asean countries, Malaysia has the fourth highest reported HIV prevalence rates after Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. This would definitely be of great concern to us. To say that the problem is not serious in Malaysia is certainly an understatement.
It would also be vital to ponder the following statistics. Most with HIV in Malaysia are males making up about 82% of those infected. The age group most affected is within the range of 20 to 40 years.
By ethnicity, the majority of the reported infections are 72% Malays, 15% Chinese, 9% Indians, 1% minor ethnic groups and 3% foreigners.
The high number of Malays (read: Muslims) infected with HIV certainly justifies the need for Muslims to be better educated and equipped with understanding and knowledge of HIV and AIDS.
Denying that the problem does not exist or pretending that it is not our problem would only make the situation worse. Problems such as HIV and AIDS should be tackled without denials and pretensions.
It should also be known that the majority of those infected with HIV are injecting drug users that account for 75% of the reported HIV cases.
Looking at the statistics and geographical location of the reported HIV cases, it could be correlated that states where the number of drug users is small has low HIV prevalence.
It is unfortunate that in spite of the existence of severe laws and penalties for drug use and trafficking for the past 50 years or so, illicit drug use continues to be a major societal scourge in our country.
It has been estimated that there are almost 200,000 people using – or rather, abusing – drugs. Out of this number, about 65% are injecting drug users.
The spread of HIV among injecting drug users has become wide since the late 1980s. It has been reported that by the end of 2002, 76% of the 44,278 cumulative reported HIV cases were injecting drug users.
Out of this figure, 11% or 3,703 were AIDS cases. HIV prevalence rates in drug users have steadily increased from 1,153 in 1991 to 4,724 in 2001.
There are many ways whereby transmission of HIV would take place amongst injecting drug users. The first and most obvious is the sharing of injecting equipment.
Besides getting HIV through sharing of injecting equipment, they are also at risk of being infected by other blood-borne viruses such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
Other ways for HIV to be transmitted amongst injecting drug users include drug contamination in its preparation processes, rituals associated with injecting drug use, high-risk sexual behaviour and mother-to-child transmission when the mother is infected with HIV.
The last method of transmission is of great concern as it has been suggested that there has been an increasing trend in infection amongst wives of injecting drug users. This would increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and delivery.
Having been provided with these distressing facts and figures, do we still want to close our eyes to the stark reality of the epidemic that is in the here and now? For Muslims, it is imperative that we do not ignore this problem.
Denying or ignoring that the problem exists would have two major consequences. Firstly, proper and planned prevention programmes would be affected.
When people say that there is no problem, then no action will be taken. When Thailand was in the state of denial in the 1980s, the number of new cases increased alarmingly. By the year 1991, when the country admitted there was indeed a problem, proper action plans were drawn up and implemented. As a result, Thailand is one of the few countries in the world, which has succeeded in bringing down the number of new cases.
The second consequence of denial is that it causes a vicious cycle. When people do not see that the HIV and AIDS problem does exist, a high number would indulge in high-risk activities such as drug abuse. This would expose them to the deadly virus. As a result, we would have an increase in the number of new cases – and yet, we would still find people denying that there is a problem. And the cycle continues.
In light of the problem that we are today facing, we need to keep ourselves informed on HIV and AIDS – and this should include those in schools. If we look at the drug users, most of them started taking drugs when they were in their teens. As such, information on the risks of drug abuse, HIV and AIDS should be given as early as possible.
Information alone is not sufficient. Education is equally, if not more, important. In this instance, the school plays a crucial role in ensuring that students are properly educated in the true sense of the word. They are not just there to sit for examinations and obtain good results, but they are also there to prepare themselves to face the real world.
Unfortunately, the real world can be grim and harsh with problems such as HIV and AIDS. Therefore, they should be given ample preparation by instilling a strong moral character within each and every one of them.
For Muslims, this strong moral character is based on the teaching of Islam. Muslims need to ensure that the true teaching of Islam is observed and practised.
The Quran has prescribed the best way for Muslims to live in this world in preparation to face the next world. The Prophet is the best example of how a person should live his life.
Mankind is the best of creations. Let us not throw this fact into the drain and bring ourselves towards self-destruction by indulging in high-risk activities that would result in HIV and AIDS.
At the same time, all of us should be compassionate. We must never prejudge people. This is what is taught in Islam. Labelling and marginalising people with HIV and AIDS will only make matters worse.
The fact of the matter is that HIV and AIDS do not only infect and affect a certain segment of the community. It can infect anybody as the virus does not pick and choose its victims.
A person may have done something wrong in the past but that does not mean he will continue doing it forever.
Islam is a religion of mercy. Muslims are taught to be forgiving as God is Himself merciful.
Therefore, to tackle the problem of HIV and AIDS, all of us should have the right mindset – that is not to blame others but instead to help those in need.
All of us can and should play our respective roles in tackling this problem. This is not a choice, but a responsibility as a member of a caring society.