WAFIQ wishes to express grief with data on HIV / AIDS in a public university, as reported by the HIV / AIDS Unit, Infectious Disease Control from Petaling District Health Office which showed that there were 15 cases of HIV / AIDS for the whole institution in 2017. From the overall 15 cases:
13 were homosexuals
1 was bisexual
1 was heterosexual
There was 1 case resulting in death from AIDS in the said public university last year.
As of February 2018 this year, there are already 3 HIV cases. Sexually transmitted infections (STDs) are also reported to be increasing.
This data was obtained after WAFIQ was contacted personally by a staff member of HIV Unit from Petaling Health Office urging for the practice of LGBT and its impact on HIV to be seriously emphasized by all parties including NGOs.
In this regard, WAFIQ urges for a massive campaign to address LGBT issues at university level. This campaign should be comprehensive, covering the prevention of practices from the perspective of religion and morality, and not just certain to safe sex with condoms alone.
The study of Intergrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance (IBBS) or bio-behavioral survey, as reported in Global AIDS Report 2016, shows that there is a decrease in condom use from 74% (2012) to 57% (2014). Studies also found that most MSMs (47.8%) were among those between the ages of 18 and 24.
According to the Global AIDS 2016 report, only a slight increase in safe sex practices by transgender people, while condom use by homosexuals does not increase.
The IBBS report reveals that there is an alarming trend in the use of alcohol and psychotropic drugs before having sex between transgender and homosexual practitioners which prevented the proper use of condoms during intercourse.
Data from the public university concerned that the majority of HIV sufferers are homosexuals and bisexuals coincide with national data where new HIV cases are dominated by these two practices. From about 1553 new HIV cases, 40% are in the age range of 19-29 years, mostly students, while 31% of professionals range from 30 to 39 years old.
Hence, comprehensive approaches including religion to prevent homosexuality and bisexuality should be intensified.
Nur Farihah Meor Mazli
Youth & Media Exco
International Women’s Alliance for Family and Quality Education
WAFIQ
