SINGAPORE: About 70 to 80 per cent of HIV patients
in Singapore are diagnosed only when they reach the late stage of
infection, and only about 20 per cent of patients at Tan Tock Seng
Hospital opt for an HIV screening.
The Communicable Disease Centre said this is a sign
that more public education for AIDS is needed.
Releasing the statistics ahead of World AIDS Day on
Thursday, the centre said more targeted educational programmes are
needed for specific groups of people, at different ages and
educational levels.
It said 35 per cent of HIV patients are aged 50 years and
older.
Many were diagnosed late.
Stigma surrounding the disease is one reason given for the low
number of people who come forward for checks.
Recent figures by the Health Ministry also showed that more
homosexuals had their HIV infection detected via voluntary
screening compared to heterosexuals.
The United Nations recently set a zero AIDS transmission goal by
2020.
But the CDC here said that target will be a stretch.
Associate Professor Leo Yee Sin, head and senior consultant
(infectious diseases) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "It's a
stretch goal, but it is certainly something for us to look forward
to. The minimum that we need to do is to see no more transmission
from mother to child. Certainly we hope with early detection and
early treatment we can also reduce the risk of HIV
transmissions."
- CNA/cc