Life
September 05, 2005
Malaysia to supply free needles and condoms in anti-AIDS campaign
The Malaysian Ministry of Health will implement the needle exchange and condom handout program for drug addicts in some areas starting from January next year in an attempt to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, local media reported on Monday.
The pilot project, co-sponsored by the Malaysian AIDS Council, will be launched in areas in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang and possibly Kuantan, Minister of Health Chua Soi Lek was quoted as saying.
After the six-month pilot project which will involve 1,200 intravenous drug users, the ministry will re-evaluate the program and then implement it nationwide, Chua said.
In addition, the Malaysian government has allocated 2.39 million ringgit (635,638 US dollars) to supply methadone, which is an oral drug substitute, to treat about 1,200 hard-core addicts starting from October for a six-month period.
The needle exchange and condom distribution program as well as the use of methadone are part of the harm reduction therapy aimed to curb of AIDS among intravenous drug users.
The program, which is proposed by the Health Ministry early June, has triggered much debate among different communities in Malaysia.
"People still don't understand ... they think some of us are crazy, standing around in shopping malls and handing out condoms and needles to any Tom, Dick and Harry. We are not. It will be tightly controlled and monitored, " Chua was quoted as saying by News Straits Times.
While refuting some media reports that the Health Ministry had decided to cancel the program under pressure, Chua said "The ministry needs time to get everything ready. The staff have to be trained and educated properly before this program can be introduced. We're not going to be giving these needles and condoms to just about everyone."
There are 280,000 drug addicts in Malaysia, 130,000 of them are intravenous drug users, Chua added.
Source: Xinhua
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