The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) that has affected almost 2,000 Singaporeans to date. Transmitted through unprotected anal and vaginal sex, the virus significantly reduces a patient’s immunity, making the patient more susceptible to external infections and viruses. When the patient’s body begins to succumb to these external infections, the patient has progressed to the stage of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Because there is no cure for the eventually lethal HIV, it is considered one of the more dangerous STDs.
In Singapore, there have been many rumours about HIV since the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. There are many people who still believe that HIV can be transmitted through saliva or touching the bum via toilet seats. Contrary to all those beliefs, HIV can only be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact. With medication, HIV patients can still live a very normal life without affecting any people they come into contact with. For access to early treatment, the government highly recommends at-risk people to go for tests at HIV testing clinics in Singapore. Getting access to medications and support systems at the early stage of the infection will help the patient live a longer and healthier life and delay the onset of AIDS.
To help us understand HIV and its impact on patients, here are a few important facts you should know about the HIV situation, especially in Singapore.
1. A few hundred new cases of HIV are reported every year.
A total of 265 new cases of HIV were reported between January and October 2018, said the Ministry of Health in a recent press statement. This is a significant decrease since the 361 new cases reported in the same period in 2017. All of these cases were exposed through sexual intercourse.
2. Most of the new cases (53%) were at the last stage of HIV at the point of testing.
Because HIV sometimes does not exhibit symptoms, many patients live about their daily lives not knowing that they have potentially contracted HIV. As such, most of them only find out at the last stage of HIV, right before the onset of AIDS, when they are extremely susceptible to infections. To prevent this from happening, the Ministry of Health urged all at-risk people to get voluntarily tested for HIV. If patients are afraid of HIV listed on their public health records, they can instead approach a private HIV testing clinic for confidential testing.
3. There is an almost equal amount of heterosexual and homosexual transmission of HIV.
Contrary to popular belief, almost the same number of new cases were reported to be from heterosexual and homosexual transmissions. This means that even those who engage in only heterosexual activity has a significant chance of being infected with HIV, especially those who engage in casual or commercial sex. As such, it is important that all sexually active persons in Singapore are aware of the potential risks of HIV and take all necessary precautions.
Conclusion
HIV is a virus that can affect all sexually active people in Singapore. It is important that all people who think they may have HIV go for a HIV test regularly.