Minister of Health, Dr. Awang Hanafi,
said on Monday in Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), that the first local case of
HIV was reported in 1986 and since then, the country has had a cumulative total
of 110 cases among citizens and permanent residents.
According to Reuter, Hanafi reiterated in spite of
the relatively low numbers, the incidence of new cases had increased over the
last three years.
“This may be associated with greater
awareness on the need for testing for HIV infection and changing patterns in
health-seeking behaviour in the community.
“Of the cumulative total of 110 cases,
38 were new cases reported in 2012 to 2014 and in 2015; 24 new cases of HIV
have been reported,” he said.
The minister said the key to tackling
the problem of HIV infections in the country was a population that was actively
engaged in their own health and well being.
“Health education on limiting risk
factors such as high-risk sexual behaviours and intravenous drug use is the
first line of defence against HIV infection," he said.
He said in Islam, the importance of
marriage and family life including healthy sexual relationships were strongly
emphasised.
Hanafi said the teaching served as an
ideal which individuals should strive to attain, not only for their spiritual
but also physical health and well being.
``This is aligned with Brunei
Darussalam’s aspiration to be a Zikir Nation upholding the Ahli Sunnah Wal
Jama’ah belief and tradition of tolerance, compassion and social harmony,'' he
said.
The minister said individuals at risk of
getting HIV infection were strongly encouraged to undergo HIV testing.
``This is a routine medical examination
similar to other investigations such as cholesterol or sugar levels.
``Individuals who would like further
information on HIV are encouraged to approach their general practitioner,’’ he
said.
Hanafi added that under the Infectious
Disease Act Cap 204, should a person test positive for HIV, his or her status
would be kept confidential and would not be revealed without prior consent from
that individual.
Iswandy Ahmad, Ppresident of Brunei
Darussalam AIDS Council (BDAC), said on Monday in Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei),
while citing statistics from Brunei's Ministry of Health, that out of the 28
new cases, seven were women.
"The increase in number of cases
involving women represents a worrying trend as women represented only a very
small minority of HIV cases in previous years,'' Ahmed said.
He said the rise in number of HIV cases
was due to low greater awareness about HIV among people and more people
engaging in "risky behaviours".
He said the council was concerned about
the marked increase in the number of cases and believed that efforts
spearheaded by the Ministry of Health to address this issue should have greater
support from collaboration with other government agencies.
Ahmad advised that efforts should focus
on increasing awareness and education on prevention of HIV and other
sexually-transmitted infections, particularly among most at-risk groups,
including youth and men who have sex with men.
"In this regard, BDAC believes that
the introduction of comprehensive reproductive education in schools will play a
big role in reducing the number of HIV cases in the long run.
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