Miri Hospital recorded 300 new HIV cases in last 5-year period
MIRI: A total of 300 new human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) cases were recorded during the last five-year period at Miri Hospital.
Miri Hospital consultant physician Dato Dr Fam Tem Lom disclosed this when giving a health talk entitled ‘HIV/AIDS: Ending Stigma, Isolation & Transmission’ in connection with World AIDS Day at Pustaka Miri yesterday.
To date, about 400 patients have received follow- up treatment at Miri Hospital.
The talk was officiated by Sibuti MP Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
“Based on statistics, there were more than 40 million people throughout the world who have been infected with HIV disease,” Dr Fam said adding that in Malaysia, the first HIV case was reported in 1986.
“There are over 100,000 HIV cases registered in the country,” he said.
Besides being a sexually transmitted disease, he said HIV can also be transmitted by sharing infected needles such as among drug addicts or sharing personal items that may have come into contact with the blood of infected persons.
In this regard, he advised those who felt that they were exposed to such disease to come to the hospital for a health check in order to get the necessary treatment.
Dr Fam assured patients that information on their health status kept in hospital are confidential.
The event was jointly organised by Pustaka Miri, Miri Hospital, Abbvie and National Population and Family Development Board ( LPKKN).