Children signing their names in support of the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council and The Body Shop's World AIDS day activities held at The Mall, Gadong last year. World Aids Day is observed on December 1 every year. Picture Courtesy of Brunei Times

Brunei observes World AIDS Day

Bandar Seri Begawan - As The globe observes World AIDS Day today, Brunei Darussalam is fully committed towards ensuring universal and equitable access for better and comprehensive health care services.

The Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi Hj Osman, made this observation in a press release to mark World AIDS Day on December 1.

This year's theme is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'.

"The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam provides free and comprehensive healthcare to all the citizens and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam," said the minister.

"Antiretroviral drugs are readily available with 100 per cent coverage including second and third line therapies for those who require them.

"All pregnant mothers continue to be routinely screened for HIV. By ensuring that all HIV positive mothers receive antiretroviral treatment and that all deliveries are done by fully trained personnel, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been virtually eliminated".

The health minister pointed out that great efforts are being directed towards HIV prevention programmes, which are aimed at increasing sexual health awareness particularly targeting youths.

"Our awareness approach takes into account religious and cultural sensitivities with the focus directed at looking at health holistically by encompassing safe behaviour, healthy lifestyle, protection of family values, health as a personal responsibility, as well as specific issues surrounding testing, treatment, discrimination and stigma related to HIV/AIDS," he said.

Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi highlighted the multisectoral collaboration that exists between the government and non-government agencies, by citing the examples of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council, particularly its youth wing, `Kelab Penyinar', as well as the Standard Chartered Bank in the private sector. "This underlines the importance of interventions utilising the efforts of civil society in HIV/AIDS prevention and we commend their tireless efforts".

The minister, however, warned that although many strides have been made in addressing the issue of universal access in prevention, treatment, care and support, "We must not be complacent".

With its young and increasingly mobile population, coupled with the growing fact that sexually transmitted infections on the increase, "Brunei Darussalam is expected to continue to be vulnerable to threats posed by the ongoing pandemic", he said.

Despite the low prevalence of HIV in the country, Brunei has not been spared from the HIV pandemic. The health minister cited that since 1986, there have been 56 local cases of HIV as of today, 11 of which have been recorded this year alone. Men between the ages of 20-39, as in previous years, have accounted for more than 80 per cent of this year's total new infections with unsafe sexual practices recognised as the most common mode of transmission.

According to 2007 figures from the World Health Organisation, some 33.2 million people are living with HIV. An estimated 2.5 million were newly infected with the virus and 2.1 million died of AIDS that same year. Out of this tally, in the regions of South and Southeast Asia alone, four million people were accounted to be living with HIV with an estimated 340,000 newly infected and 240,000 deaths caused by AIDS in that year.

Leaders around the world have pledged to work towards universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, recognising these and fundamental human rights.

"Valuable progress has been made in increasing access to HIV/AIDS services. Although at present there is unfortunately no cure for HIV, since the advent of effective antiretroviral treatment, many people living with HIV if diagnosed early, can continue to lead fulfilling lives and are expected to live near-normal life spans," Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi pointed out.

But he ended his World AIDS Day message with another reminder: "It is also imperative that we do our best to ensure that people living with HIV are able to live in an environment devoid of stigma and discrimination as part of their basic human rights."

The health minister's message was further echoed by Awg Iswandy Ahmad, the Vice President (Activities and Events) Brunei Darussalam's AIDS Council. "We are calling all members of society to provide for the needs and rights for any person living with HIV/AIDS, equal to any other person. They are not to be outcast, discriminated or blamed."

However, he also reminded the community that despite everything, they are still human beings: "They need your support, love, care and respect."

In his message, Iswandy acknowledged the fact that more still needs to be done especially on the prevention side, highlighting that prevention is better than cure and that "men, women and children need to be educated and empowered, risky behaviour needs to be changed, attitudes need to be more responsible and values need to be enforced".

He best summed it up by saying that if awareness is not spread, then HIV will. He poignantly ended his message with a thought-provoking quote by Daniele Carnegie: "God himself does not judge a person until the end of days, why should you and I?"  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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