The Higher Education Ministry has revealed a troubling increase in HIV infections among students aged 18 to 25 in Malaysian higher education institutions.
According to Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, data from the Health Ministry indicates a fluctuating but overall upward trend in HIV cases from 2020 to 2023.
244 students reported to have HIV in 2023
According to New Straits Times, in a written parliamentary reply, Dr. Zambry disclosed that 214 students from public and private institutions were reported to have HIV in 2020.
This number slightly declined to 186 cases in 2021. However, the trend reversed with cases rising to 221 in 2022 and 244 in 2023.
The proportion of students from higher education institutions affected by HIV ranged between 6.7% and 7.6% of the total new HIV cases identified during these years.
Pushing programmes to raise awareness
Dr. Zambry emphasized the ministry’s commitment to addressing this issue through various programmes aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and increasing HIV advocacy, awareness, and prevention among students.
From 2022 until June this year, the ministry has conducted 77 programmes focused on HIV prevention, involving 22,905 public university students.
“We are always aware and concerned about the wellbeing of students, including issues involving health and disease infections,” Dr. Zambry stated in his parliamentary response.
