Brunei
Darussalam Aids Council (BDAC) is resolving to completely eradicate HIV
infections and AIDS-related deaths within the country in conjunction with this
year's World AIDS Day, which is observed on December 1 every year.
"Targeting to zero is a very ambitious
aim, but not impossible (to achieve)," said President of BDAC, Iswandy
Ahmad of the council's resolution.
He added the resolution is in line with this
year's World AIDS Day theme, "Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections,
Zero AIDS-related deaths and Zero discrimination".
Brunei is among the countries that has lowest
prevalence of HIV infection in the region, he said, but being located "in
the middle of the epidemic", surrounded by countries with high prevalence
of HIV infection, Brunei's immunity to the disease is not guaranteed.
In a phone interview with The Brunei Times
Monday, Iswandy hoped to advocate a comprehensive reproductive health education
through life skills in the Brunei education system as a step to completely
eradicate HIV infection and AIDS-related deaths.
"Sex is a promoted subliminal message,
it's promoted in music, television, Internet," he said, adding that the
comprehensive reproductive health education through life skills teaches young
people to "not just be book-smart, but also street-smart".
In achieving the "zero" target
behavioural changes must be implemented in members of the public and there must
also be tolerance in society towards people with HIV infection.
Iswandy further urged the public, especially
young people, travellers and even married couples, to behave responsibly to
avoid falling victim to HIV and Aids.
The council has also been organising the HIV
Awareness Programme for Peers and Youth (Happy), aimed at increasing awareness
about HIV amongst youths, encouraging behavioural changes and assisting the
target group to make right choices.
Iswandy added that younger people are being
targeted for education and HIV awareness programmes because HIV cases indicated
ages 20 to 29 are the prominent age range for infections.
To highlight this year's World Aids Day, BDAC
has organised a series of events over the month of December to raise awareness
of the epidemic in Brunei Darussalam.
On December 1, BDAC will jointly hold a press
conference with Standard Chartered Bank and the Health Promotion Centre.
The topic at the conference was not disclosed,
however, new statistics of HIV/AIDS cases in Brunei is expected to be released.
A mass recital of Surah Yassin will be
conducted in the evening to remember fallen victims of HIV/AIDS, Iswandy said.
The highlight of World AIDS Day will be on
December 11, when Brunei's first dulathon (a run-bike-run format) and a charity
bazaar will be held.
Details of the event will be released via
social media over the weeks leading to the day, he added.
Among other events planned out include a
roadshow to be held jointly with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports at
the Youth Centre (Pusat Belia) in the capital, and an AIDS Awareness Programme
during the National Service Programme or "Program Khidmat Bakti Negara"
(PKBN) at the end of December.
"World Aids Day is not a
celebration," Iswandy said, adding it is a reminder of the dangers of
HIV/Aids and served as a "benchmark" to push forward in the fight
against HIV/AIDS.
"So far, the cases (of HIV/AIDS) are
stabilising...we are trying to keep the cases low so we are calling all public
to be responsible," he added.
On the UNAids website, the World Aids Day 2011
anticipates to see "renewed activism from the civil society" leading
towards the International AIDS Conference scheduled to take place in Washington
DC six months from December 1.
This year also marks the 30th year since AIDS
was first reported, the website stated.
Low Leng May
The Brunei Times
Business & Investment Opportunities
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment