SINGAPORE : Parliament will be debating the AIDS issue and the
fight against it, when it sits on November 24.
The Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr Balaji Sadasivan, told
reporters he has met with individuals from several groups who have
responded to his recent comments on an AIDS epidemic here.
This include those from Action for AIDS, AWARE and also fridae.com,
which he said have signed up to partner the Health Ministry in its
fight against AIDS.
It was a community event to mark the start of the Senior Citizens
Week, but the recent debate over who is responsible for spreading
the anti-AIDS message and how, would not go away.
A week ago, Dr Balaji has warned of an AIDS epidemic in
Singapore.
And he has hit out at civil group, Action For AIDS, for not doing
enough to educate the public on AIDS.
Also criticised, fridae.com for promoting what he called, a
promiscuous lifestyle.
Dr Balaji said there was no running away from the fact that whether
one is heterosexual or homosexual, it is promiscuity which puts
people at risk.
"The Ministry's position is as follows - the first backdrop on
which an anti-AIDS programme must be built, must be to get people
to have monogamous relationships.
"If you have a single partner, and you have a monogamous
relationship with a single partner, then it is very, very unlikely
for you to get AIDS, if your partner also sticks to you!"
As for those with multiple sex partners, Dr Balaji said they should
be educated on protection against AIDS.
They should also know it is an offence for HIV positive people to
have sex with another person without informing him or her of his
condition.
On his meeting with AIDS activists just two days ago, Dr Balaji
said while they agree on the anti-AIDS messages, they do not agree
on which should be highlighted.
Dr Balaji said: "Those who are engaged in promiscuous activities
would like the ministry not to emphasise our message of single
partner.
"Now because we want to protect people, we do not want people to
get AIDS, regardless of their morals, that does not mean that the
ministry will take a position condoning a lifestyle that goes
against the values of Singapore!"
Dr Balaji said there would be more resources to build up the
Communicable Disease Centre where AIDS patients are treated. -
CNA