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November 27, 2008 10:54 AM
Unicef's Way Of Facing Challenges Of HIV And AIDS (In Conjunction With The World Aids Day On Dec 1)
By Melati Mohd Ariff
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The spread of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in Malaysia is not showing any signs of slowing down, based on the latest statistics.
From 7,805 HIV cases in 1993, the cumulative figures as at Dec 31, 2007 are 80,938 cases.
As for Aids, there were 227 in 1993 and by the end of 2007, the numbers had ballooned to 13,635. For Aids-related deaths, the cumulative figures as at Dec 31 were 10,334 cases.
As the challenges to curb the spread of HIV and Aids heightened, so are the initiatives taken by the Malaysian Government and the other caring organisations.
The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) is one such organisation. This agency has worked with the Malaysian authorities since 1954 to promote the survival, development and protection of children in the country.
But since 2005, Unicef has been focusing on HIV and Aids. Its programmes and advocacy efforts also supported the global campaign 'Unite for Children, United Against Aids' (launched by Unicef and UNAids in the same year).
In conjunction with World Aids Day Dec 1, Bernama has interviewed Youssouf Mohammad Oomar, Unicef's representative to Malaysia where he spoke on the organisations HIV and Aids-related initiatives as well as the challenges ahead.
Bernama: On HIV and Aids-related initiatives in Malaysia, how has Unicef progressed to date?
Oomar: Unicef has been working with the Government of Malaysia to contain and everse the spread of HIV in the country. Unicef'ss HIV and Aids programmes are built on four pillars -- (1) technical assistance and capacity enhancement; (2) catalyst grassroots programmes; (3) public information and dissemination; (4) applicable research and analysis.
On the policy and strategy front, Unicef worked with the Government to support the development of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV and Aids 2006-2010. The NSP highlights six working strategies:
1. Strengthening leadership and advocacy
2. Training and capacity enhancement
3. Reducing HIV vulnerability among injecting drug users (IDUs) and their partners
4. Reducing HIV vulnerability among women, young people and children
5. Reducing HIV vulnerability among marginalised and vulnerable groups
6. Improving access to prevention, treatment, care and support
Unicef is also a partner in the governments Harm Reduction programme focusing on advocacy work for reducing HIV vulnerability among the injecting drug users, which includes youths, partners and their families.
Between 2005 and 2007, Unicef piloted several grassroots programmes focusing on the peer-to-peer education among women and young people. In research and capacity building, Unicef supported the first National Aids Conference themed Keep the Promise, Uniting in Action' in December 2007.
Unicef is also currently carrying out a preliminary assessment of children affected by Aids to better understand the issues of care and support while also fighting the stigma and discrimination.
Unicef is focused on working with the government and civil society to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of youth and womens programmes, which feeds into the development of comprehensive policies. We will also continue our on going communications and advocacy efforts through our engagement with the local media.
Bernama: Can you comment on the challenges to stop the spread of HIV and Aids?
Oomar: Basically, there are three key challenges faced by the government of Malaysia and all stakeholders involved in responding to HIV.
Firstly, the rise in sexual transmission of HIV. Secondly, to enhance and continue involvement of civil society organisations, and thirdly, the need for disaggregated data analysis and more research.
Bernama: How significance is education in creating HIV and Aids awareness in Malaysia and what are Unicef's initiatives in this field?
Oomar: Education is one of the most powerful tools in reversing the spread of HIV, and preventing health and social ills. Life skills-based education (LSBE) is aimed at equipping young people with life skills, such as self-confidence, interpersonal communication, competence, and personal & social development. The LSBE programme does not only strengthen youths life skills but also strengthens a countrys national prevention response to the fight against the HIV epidemic, specifically for youths.
The LSBE model was piloted in Kedah in 2005 and the Ministry of Education is planning to implement the programme nationwide in 2008 with the new combined curriculum from Unicef, Unesco and Ministry of Education.
Unicef is working with the Ministry of Education to strengthen the approach of life skills-based education (LSBE) on HIV and Aids. A curriculum in LSBE has been developed to guide teachers in applying the lesson plans in the classroom. To date, capacity-building activities for teachers on LSBE and HIV have been carried out to reach teachers in the Peninsula and East Malaysia.
Bernama: Unicef's stance on stigmatisation and discrimination against People Living with HIV (PLH) or Aids?
Oomar: Unicef, as with all other UN agencies, has a strong stance against the discrimination of people living with HIV. Further, as the agency mandated to safeguard the rights of all children, Unicef advocates that every child, whether affected or infected by HIV, has the same rights as any other child living in the world, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (which Malaysia has ratified).
Stigma and discrimination against children infected or affected by HIV is unacceptable at any stage of the childs life, whether occurring within the family, in schools or in the community. Discrimination has serious, long-term repercussions on the child and familys access to prevention, treatment and care of HIV and Aids.
Through advocacy, Unicef works to address this stigma, engaging with the media as our primary partner. We have previously organised a media workshop in 2005, an editors seminar in 2007 and another media workshop in October 2008, to directly update the media on new approaches and terminology for stories on HIV and Aids. We also consistently provide media advisories, videos, articles and resources to the media.
Another significant partner in combating stigma and discrimination is religious leaders, who have the respect and trust of their community. Towards this end, in June 2007, Unicef organised a seminar with the Ministry of Health for Muslim religious leaders to engage them in the issue. This programme was funded by Manchester United Football Club through the "United for Unicef" partnership.
Bernama: Does Unicef has any other initiatives to engage Muslim religious leaders in the Harm Reduction programme?
Oomar: As reaffirmed in the National Strategic Plan for HIV and Aids 2006-2010, Malaysia's response to the Aids epidemic has to incorporate a comprehensive multi-sectoral approach to ensure that the most vulnerable groups are provided with the necessary support and care.
The role of Muslim religious leaders, as highly respected and influential members of their community, is essential in strengthening the reach and impact of the harm reduction programme, particularly in ensuring that HIV prevention measures are taking place.
In November 2008, Unicef engaged several key Muslim religious leaders from various states of Malaysia on a study tour to Indonesia, to explore the best practices of the HIV response among religious leaders.
The knowledge gained by building such relationships will be vital in advocating to more religious leaders on the prevention of HIV at all levels of community, district and national programmes.
(See http://www.unicef.org/malaysia/reallives_7587.html for full story of an imam in Perlis who took the initiative further with a programme at his own mosque).
Bernama: What is Unicef's views on the trend of feminisation of HIV?
Oomar: The current epidemic of HIV and Aids in Malaysia is driven by the injecting drug users population, which makes up about 72 per cent of about 80,000 cumulative cases of HIV in the country (since the first diagnosed case in 1986).
However, Unicef and Ministry of Health recognised that the trend of heterosexual transmission is on the rise, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, leading to a worrying rise in HIV infection among women and girls. Unicef is committed to addressing this feminisation of HIV to reduce the severe impact that it will have on children in the country.
If this trend is not arrested, more children will miss out on their childhood, their families, education, healthcare and the chance to have a healthy future. This leaves them extremely vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and illness. Unicef is in collaboration with the government to identify specific programmes to address the worrying trend of feminisation of HIV.
Bernama: Unicef's commitment towards HIV and Aids programmes in Malaysia.
Oomar: Unicef is committed to working with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development, and Ministry of Education to reverse the spread of HIV in the country, and specifically, enhance the protective environment for children, young people and women.
This complements Strategy Four of the National Strategic Plan 2006-2010: Reducing HIV vulnerability among women, young people and children.
-- BERNAMA
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