ARV treatment for 1,455 in KK with HIV
Published on: Sunday, December 11, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: About 1,455 people with HIV were given treatment that could both prolong and help improve their quality of life in the State capital.Kota Kinabalu Health Officer Dr Jiloris @ Julian Frederick they had received the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment here until mid-2016."In 2015, Kota Kinabalu recorded the highest number of HIV and AIDS cases in the State, accounting for 93 HIV and 37 AIDS cases. About 12 deaths involved AIDS.
ADVERTISEMENT
"For this year, HIV notification had decreased to 64 cases."We hope that with the ARV treatment which started in Malaysia in 2001, more HIV patients will benefit and at least 90 per cent of the eligible patients will receive the treatment by 2020," he said.Dr Jiloris said the treatment is very effective as it could control the severity of the disease."We had a HIV case developing into AIDS but with regular treatment and consistent medicine, the AIDS reverted to HIV.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the HIV is still there which means the treatment and medicine are able to control HIV from developing into AIDS."The most important is the HIV patients must take medicine regularly and also follow the advice of their doctor," said Dr Jiloris at the World AIDS Day celebration at the Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutu, here, Saturday.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Dr Jiloris, since the availability of the ARV treatment, there has been a decrease in deaths related to AIDS.To a question, he said to achieve the target of zero HIV by 2020, they were providing counselling to the high-risk groups."We offer them counselling or talks on how to protect themselves from HIV and for those requiring treatment, we will proceed to give them treatment."At least when we approach the high-risk groups and give them talks about HIV and AIDS, they will receive some knowledge about the disease. "So far, 80 per cent from the group have given us their cooperation and we will persist in giving counselling to the remaining 20 per cent," he said.The event was officiated by Welfare Department Director Mohd Noh Wahab, who represented Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad.Jainab, in her speech, advised the community to not create barriers or discriminate against HIV/AIDS patients and their families."We should give them moral support and opportunity to live as a member of the public. "The Government showed its commitment to ensure the people with HIV/AIDS get proper treatment through ARV, counselling, care and support so that deaths because of AIDS can be fewer."The Health Ministry has come up with the National Strategic Plan for Ending AIDS 2016-2030 themed 'Ending AIDS' which emphasises on three main points, namely zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination and zero death related to AIDS.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
