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Muslim
Malaysia Cannot Promote Condoms Openly |
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A top
Malaysian health official said Monday the government understands that
condoms prevent HIV transmission, but the issue is delicate. The health
ministry cannot openly promote condoms to control HIV's spread for fear of
antagonizing Islamic groups that would accuse it of encouraging promiscuity,
said Jalal Halil Khalil, deputy director of disease control.
"It's based on people's sentiments," Jalal said. "In Malaysia, we have
Islamic religious groups who sometimes misinterpret our efforts in
controlling HIV/AIDS by using condoms."
The ministry says Malaysia faces an
HIV epidemic that by 2015 could quadruple
to 300,000 the number of people infected. Last year, the government
initiated a five-year plan to pilot needle exchange programs and offer free
antiretroviral drugs in Kuala Lumpur and in the northern Penang and southern
Johor states. Those measures provoked a "hue and cry" from religious groups,
said Jalal.
Because condoms are associated with sex, and sex is rarely discussed in
public, the health ministry has stepped aside to permit nongovernmental
organizations to promote them, said Jalal. The ministry is discussing HIV
courses with Muslim leaders, he said. "This is meant for the religious
leaders and imams so they can educate people on what HIV is all about, and
how to prevent it. And of course you can't have prevention without condoms,"
Jalal said. There is still social stigma against people with HIV/AIDS, but
that is slowly changing, Jalal said.
Agence
France Presse (05.21.07) |
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