CYBERJAYA: A total of 1,076 HIV infection cases involving children under 13 was recorded nationwide between 1986 and 2013, says Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) executive director Jasmin Jalil.
She said according to Health Ministry statistics, 50 new HIV cases among children were recorded in 2013 or one per cent of the overall infection cases, totalling 101,672 cases for the 27-year period.
“These children are infected with HIV during pregnancy, usually because of their mother’s reluctance to take any medication to prevent the infection,” she told reporters after an AIDS Charity Ride programme here yesterday.
The programme, jointly organised by MAF and University Kebangsaan Malaysia in conjunction with ‘Zero Discrimination Day’, is to raise funds to help people living with HIV, especially the less fortunate.
According to Jasmin, the HIV infection among those aged between 13 and 29 stood at 34 per cent out of the total infection cases for the period of 27 years.
On Zero Discrimination Day, she said the foundation would continue to intensify efforts to erode society’s stigma against people living with HIV or affected by HIV. — Bernama