Call for stronger HIV response, community support

BINTULU (Dec 2): The World AIDS Day 2025 was marked here with a strong call for urgency, unity, and transformation in the ongoing battle against HIV, particularly in divisions identified as high-priority areas in Sarawak.

Themed ‘Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response’, this year’s event underscored the need to confront emerging challenges and accelerate community-driven solutions.

In her keynote address, Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) patron Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu highlighted disruptions undermining progress, including shifts in global funding, pandemic aftershocks, and deeply rooted stigma that deter vulnerable communities from accessing life-saving services.

“Based on the latest data, Sarawak recorded 217 new HIV cases in 2024, with 66 per cent originating from Kuching, Miri, and Bintulu.

“Bintulu alone reported 36 new cases, accounting for 16.6 per cent of all infections, placing it among key divisions requiring intensified intervention,” she said.

The text of her speech was delivered by Sarawak Health Department HIV/STI sectional head Dr Ruziana Miss.

Also present were Sarawak Heart Foundation trustee Datuk Anne Teng, Bintulu Hospital director Dr Suzalinna Sulaiman, and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad representative Maslihah Tioh.

Jamilah noted that the figures reflect gaps in early detection and access to care, with the virus continuing to spread silently when only a fraction of the population seeks testing.

To address these gaps, she said the MAF is expanding its ‘Teratak Kasih Tok Nan’ outreach model to Bintulu, supported by the Sarawak Health Access Programme (SHAPE) which provides transportation and treatment assistance to underprivileged patients, mitigating economic and geographical barriers.

Jamilah also urged full support for the Differentiated HIV Services for Key Populations model, enabling community health workers to deliver preventive services such as PrEP and HIV testing directly to high-risk groups.

She emphasised the importance of routine, stigma-free HIV testing through Community-Based Testing in workplaces, educational institutions, and remote areas, while reinforcing the scientific message U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable), which ensures that individuals on effective treatment with undetectable viral loads cannot transmit HIV.

Calling stigma the ‘core disruption’, Jamilah urged young people and key populations to know HIV status and support local outreach groups.

She also called on healthcare providers to enhance accessibility, confidentiality, and community-friendly services, and encouraged leaders and educators to champion HIV education and reject discrimination.