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Tuesday December 23, 2008

Expert: HIV carriers can have healthy kids


GEORGE TOWN: The perception that those who are infected with HIV cannot marry, have sex or even have children is wrong.

AIDS Action and Res­earch Group (AARG) convenor Assoc Prof Dr Ismail Baba (pic) said a person who is HIV-positive can still lead a normal life, get married and have children as long as they are given proper counselling and treatment.

He said the chance of a HIV-positive person getting a child who is also infected was 30%.

“There are cases where they have been given wrong advice by even trained counsellors,” he said at the start of a two-day workshop on “Men & HIV/AIDS: Problems, Issues & Action at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here yesterday.

On Monday, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was reported as advising Muslim couples not to marry if one or both of them were HIV positive.

He said that it would be unfair for the couples and to their child.

Dr Ismail also said AARG, which is a member of the Malaysian AIDS Council, supported the council’s stand to discourage mandatory HIV screening for all Muslim couples.

“What is the point of forcing people to undergo the screening because it will only defeat the purpose of curbing the rise in HIV infections,” he said.

He suggested that the Government first identify religious officers who are qualified and trained to give proper pre-test and post-test counselling.

He also said the screening would only create fear in those who feel they are at risk because of the stigma and discrimation they could face.

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