218 newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases from January to June 2009
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health said 218 people were diagnosed HIV positive in the first six months of this year.
The number is up from 154 cases in the same period last year but slightly less than half of the 456 HIV cases for the whole of 2008.
Clinics which started offering anonymous HIV testing last November said they have seen up to three times more patients coming for testing.
One practice in Jurong West is one of seven clinics across
Singapore conducting anonymous HIV tests. Some 200 to 300 people have
been tested here since last November and six results have come back
HIV-positive.
Dr Raymond Soh uses a rapid test which gives a result within 20 minutes.
Dr Soh, general practitioner, Dr Soh Family Clinic, said: "Before
the testing, I usually do a pre-test counselling. I will advise them on
the implication of a positive test, tell them about the consequences.
"If they are not ready to accept a positive test, I will postpone the
test. So most of them, when they are tested positive, they are usually
calm."
Those who want to get tested at any of the seven anonymous clinics
do not need to provide their names or IC numbers. But the clinics must
provide the number of cases that have been tested HIV positive to the
Health Ministry. This data will then be used to study the spread of the
disease.
The largest provider of anonymous HIV testing is Action For Aids.
The non-profit organisation conducted 7,593 tests last year, of which
136 were positive. It has not given any numbers on HIV-positive cases
from its clinic this year.
Lionel Lee, executive director, Action for Aids, said: "Post test
counselling is a very important procedure that all anonymous test sites
should follow closely, especially if one is HIV positive.
"We direct them to our support group "Project Hope", where these
individuals are given the right information and a buddying system to
help them allay their fears as well as being given the right
information on medication and treatment."
The organisation encourages patients to seek treatment in Singapore
rather than overseas. But the upfront costs can be substantial.
So, starting from September, patients diagnosed with HIV at the
Action For Aids clinic at Kelantan Lane will receive S$200 to help them
pay for the treatment.
- CNA/vm