AIDS council slams proposed mandatory HIV tests for non-Muslims

published on December 18, 2018 by Vinodh Pillai, in FMT

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) has panned a proposal by the women, family and community development ministry to make HIV tests compulsory for non-Muslims intending to tie the knot.

In a statement, MAC said conducting compulsory HIV screenings is not an “effective, long-term solution” to combat rising HIV cases, adding that HIV testing should only be done on a voluntary basis.

“This is in line with the stand of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which outlines the policy and practice of not recognising any kind of screening test that is performed involuntarily,” MAC said.

“The negative results from a screening test does not guarantee if a person will remain negative if they are involved in high-risk activities such as unprotected sex and sharing of contaminated needles.

“While the HIV screening for the soon-to-be bride is only done once, the risk for HIV infections is lifelong.”

MAC pointed out that the negative reading of an HIV screening before marriage would not bring about any “guarantee of safety” in terms of HIV risks after the marriage.

“The mandatory HIV test will be perceived as having a minimal impact in controlling the spread of HIV without specific intervention taken to prevent this infection,” it said.

HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, causes HIV infection and over time, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

AIDS is where the progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening infections and cancers to thrive.

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AIDS council slams proposed mandatory HIV tests for non-Muslims

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