KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry has revealed that the number of thalassemia carriers and those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Sabah has increased.
Menggatal Health Clinic health physician Dr Mohd Nazri Daud disclosed this here yesterday to reporters at the launch of the Thalassemia and HIV awareness campaign at the Allied Health Sciences College (KSKB) in Bukit Padang where some 750 students were screened during the three-day campaign.
He said the increase in numbers are the result of the active screening done by the ministry in order to detect and reduce the birth of thalassemic children as well as to deter the infection and progression of HIV into the more serious acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) condition.
“We all know that Sabah has the largest contributing numbers to the total of thalassemia cases and carriers in the country.
“Sabah contributes more or less one third out of the total thalassemia carriers in Malaysia,” said Dr Mohd Nazri.
“Screening is important in order to achieve the mission of the ministry to eliminate the birth of children with the disease by detecting thalassemia carriers and deterring them from getting married to each other.”
According to Dr Mohd Nazri, the ministry is targeting youths between the age of 13 to 24, collaborating with secondary schools and higher learning institutions for the screening and awareness programs.
He said the ministry is also reaching out to soon-to-be-married couples through their pre-marriage program.
“A person will show no symptoms of being a thalassemia carrier. You are just like a normal person but once you are a thalassemia patient, usually children, symptoms will be obvious such as stunt in growth, paleness and fatigue,” said Kota Kinabalu City Wellness Centre (KKIA) medical officer Dr Che Zarina Abdullah, who represented State Health Director Christina Rundi at the officiating ceremony.
“If a carrier mates with another carrier, there is a 25% chance for thalassemia in every pregnancy but if one person is a carrier and the other is not a carrier, then there is no chance for the occurrence of the disease in the baby, so that is why we want to screen,” she added.
According to Dr Che Zarina, thalassemia is one of the health concerns in Malaysia. Studies reveal that the genetic carriers are between 3 – 5%, or one in every 20 in the country, which is an estimate of 600,000 to one million Malaysians.
In 2012 alone, 1,200 thalassemic children throughout Sabah have received free treatment in the government hospitals, she added.
Meanwhile for HIV, most infections in Sabah occur through sexual intercourse compared to West Malaysia where the largest contributing factor for the infection is through sharing needles between drug addicts.
“The incidence rate is higher among those involved in high risk behaviour and activities such as homosexuality, transgender and those involved in open sex lifestyle or prostitution,” she said
Part of the ministry’s programs for HIV involves an anonymous screening process where the identity of those going for the screening is kept confidential.
“The Kota Kinabalu City wellness centre, located next to the city’s High Court, is open every day for the public. Friday is set aside especially for screening and we hope they will come to us for the free service,” said Dr Che Zarina.
“Kota Kinabalu has been selected as one of the four cities, namely Kuching, Kuantan and Seremban, for the zero HIV city by 2020 campaign.
“It will be launched on December 16 to coincide with the World AIDS Day with the goal of zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination among HIV patients and zero AIDS related death,” she added.
She disclosed that another HIV/AIDS roadshow will be held on November 30.