Speech by Minister of State for Health, Dr Amy Khor, at the Action for AIDS’ "Let's be positive about people living with HIV" campaign launch, 1 December 2011, 6.50pm

1. First, I would like to thank Action for AIDS for organizing this event and gathering your supporters to mark World AIDS Day this year. I’d like to acknowledge you the supporters, healthcare workers, caregivers and ambassadors present with us today. Your support and work has certainly strengthened the resolve of People Living with HIV (or PLHIV for short), and given them the courage to accept their current state and to live with courage, strength and dignity. The slogan for this year’s World AIDS Day campaign is “Let’s Be Positive about People Living with HIV” – it reminds us that discrimination must never be allowed to rear its ugly head.

2. We mark World AIDS Day positively because there’s much more to be positive over compared to three decades ago when HIV/AIDS was virtually a death sentence. Today, with modern Science, HIV infection is manageable and especially so with early detection. Patients who are diagnosed early due to voluntary screening and testing have a significantly increased chance of enjoying a normal productive life. Unfortunately HIV-related stigma and discrimination in society undermines such prevention efforts. People fear that if others know that they have contracted HIV, they will be rejected by friends, family and society. With such fears and denial of the possibility of infection, it is not surprising that only 12% of newly diagnosed cases were detected through voluntary testing in 2010 and 54% of these cases already had late-stage HIV infection when diagnosed.

3. HPB’s latest survey this week showed that while people nowadays are slightly less prone to discriminating against PLHIV, we should strive harder to reduce the stigma and discrimination linked to it, and to encourage early detection. Early detection leads to a better prognosis, and infected individuals will be able to return to work early and enjoy a more or less normal life. We urge those at risk to overcome their fears, step out, and be tested. Almost all medical clinics offer HIV tests. Some clinics offer rapid HIV tests which take only 20 minutes or less to get tested for HIV. You can find a list of clinics approved to conduct rapid HIV tests on the MOH website. However for even greater privacy, individuals can also visit seven anonymous testing centres, one of which is the AFA’s Anonymous HIV Testing and Counselling Clinic at Kelantan Lane. The list of clinics offering anonymous HIV testing is available at the Health Promotion Board’s website. You can locate a HIV testing site most convenient to you for the screening.

4. On World AIDS Day, join me in committing to address the HIV/AIDS problem in an open and positive way. I thank you all for coming to mark World AIDS Day and to help inaugurate this campaign for 2011 to encourage early detection. Let’s be positive about people living with HIV.