Wednesday, October 20, 2004
HIV/AIDS infection in Singapore; Thailand, Philippines - a comparison
HIV/AIDS infection rises in Singapore
November 24, 2003
Singapore
Heterosexual transmission, especially with prostitutes or casual sex partners, was the major cause of the new infections, the ministry of health (MOH) said in a statement.
Of the 201 new cases, 198 of them were infected via sexual transmission with heterosexual sex responsible for 78 percent of it, the MOH said.
About 88 percent of the new cases in the January-October period were males.
"Heterosexual transmission has been the most common mode of HIV transmission among Singaporeans since 1991," the MOH said.
"Most of these cases contracted the infection through casual sex and sex with prostitutes in Singapore and overseas," it said.
"Among those who acquired the infection through the sexual route, about 88 percent had sexual exposure to prostitutes (locally and overseas) and/or casual sex partners."
The latest HIV infection cases bring the total number of Singaporeans afflicted with the virus to 2034 since the first HIV/AIDS patients were detected in the city-state in 1985.
Of the 2034 cases, 488 have full blown AIDS and 776 have died, the MOH said.
With the jump in infections, the MOH reminded Singaporeans to practise safe sex.
"The Ministry would like to emphasise that the only way to avoid AIDS is to remain faithful to one's spouse and to avoid casual sex and sex with prostitutes," it said.
"Persons who engage in casual sex or sex with prostitutes are advised to lower their risk by wearing condoms."
----- Original Message -----From: Clapping TreeSent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 11:08 AMSubject: [catholicACT] FWD: AIDS Rates for Thailand and the PhilippinesQuestion: Who profits the most from increased condom sales?
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Telling the Truth: AIDS Rates for Thailand and the Philippines
http://www.hli.org/Thailand%20and%20Philippines%20AIDS%20Rates.html
According to the U.N., Thailand has 66 million people. While
according to the USAID-funded Commission on Population, the
Philippines is now home to 82 million souls.
As of August 2003 there were 899,000 HIV/AIDS cases documented in
Thailand and approximately 125,000 deaths attributed to the disease.
These numbers are many times those projected by the WHO (60,000-
80,000 cases) in 1991. These numbers contrast sharply with those of
the Philippines where, as of September 30, 2003, there were 1,946
AIDS cases resulting in 260 deaths. This is only a mere fraction of
the number of cases (80,000-90,000) that the WHO projected would be
reached by 2000.
Worldwide HIV Situation
http://www.youandaids.org/Asia%20Pacific%20at%20a%20Glance/Philippines/index.asp#scenario
The Philippines has a relatively low prevalence rate in the world
with less than one percent of Filipino adults infected with HIV.
