Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says that the city’s HIV/AIDS success offers good insight on how cities globally can tackle the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The rate of decline of new HIV cases in Malaysia slowed to 24% between 2010 and 2022 from 50% in the previous decade, threatening Malaysia's aim to end AIDS by 2030, says Dr Zaliha Mustafa. About 3,000 new HIV cases are reported yearly in the country.
Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman says without engaging people who inject drugs (PWIDs), ending AIDS by 2030 will "remain a pipe dream". A new GCDP report urges countries to decriminalise drug use. Only 54.5% of PWIDs with HIV in Malaysia currently receive ART.
In a progressive statement, Religious Affairs Minister Mohd Na’im Mokhtar tells Parliament that LGBT Malaysians cannot be denied their fundamental human rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution, adding that Jakim has worked with MOH on HIV programmes.
Malaysia's DCA has approved Apretude (cabotegravir) for high-risk groups after an Asean joint assessment, the first and only treatment by injection for HIV pre-exposure prevention. Cabotegravir only has to be taken every 2 months, unlike daily PrEP pills.
A new report advocates integrating non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the HIV response, as people living with HIV are living longer; it's a cruel irony of the success of the HIV response that they now face higher NCD prevalence than adults without HIV.
MAF chair Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman emphasises the role of the media in the HIV epidemic, citing parallels from Covid vax misinformation in the US that saw higher excess deaths for Republican voters. In Malaysia, the media undermined the PrEP programme.
Infectious disease expert Prof Dr Christopher Lee says accessibility and affordability of HIV treatments have improved, yet societal discrimination poses barriers to care.
Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman tells Parliament that MOH will review its pilot programme on HIV prevention drug PrEP – "whether it should be continued" or to have "a way forward" to prevent HIV infection related to the "lifestyle" of gay men.