KUCHING: Sarawak AIDS Concern Society (SACS) has voiced strong objections to a proposal by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, for non-Muslim couples to be subjected to compulsory HIV pre-marital testing.
In echoing the statement by the Malaysian AIDS Council, SACS said its objection was in line with the stance of World Health Organization (WHO) and Unaids that did not support compulsory screening of individuals for HIV.
“In screening a person for HIV, one’s personal choice must be respected while adhering to ethical and human rights principles.
“Compulsory HIV screenings will not provide long-term solution in addressing the increase of HIV cases in this country,” SACS pointed out in a press statement issued by its exco members here yesterday.
It said the negative results from a screening test would provide a false sense of security that a person would never get infected by HIV after the marriage.
The risk of getting infected will still exist if one continues to be involved in high-risk activities associated with HIV transmission after the screening, it added.
SACS suggested that instead of making HIV testing compulsory, Malaysians should be encouraged to get tested on a voluntary basis complete with pre- and post-testing counselling.
The press statement said SACS would continue to support the voluntary testing and counselling (VCT) programme and to work closely with Ministry of Health or any other agencies as part of our commitment in battling HIV transmission in this country.
SACS is a non-profit organisation based in Sarawak that conducts advocacy work on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in addition to providing support for people living with HIV.
