KUALA LUMPUR, July 1: A total of 1,091 university students were diagnosed with HIV between 2020 and 2024, with 222 new cases reported last year alone.
Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, said the majority of these cases involved teenagers aged 18 and 19, indicating early exposure to high-risk activities such as unprotected sex, needle sharing, and substance abuse.
He noted that the rise in HIV cases among university students is a clear indicator that more aggressive intervention is needed, including harm reduction strategies tailored specifically for youths.
“One of the early measures introduced is the use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is a preventive tool against HIV.
“Studies have shown that PrEP can significantly reduce the risk of infection when taken consistently,” he said during a press conference at the Harm Reduction Roundtable Conference at a hotel here today.
Lukanisman also acknowledged that the Ministry of Health (MOH) is facing major challenges in providing access to self-screening tests for underage youths.
“One of the current issues is access to HIV self-test kits for minors, as there is no specific legislation in place.
“We require parental consent to conduct self-tests and also for treatment, which poses a challenge for teenagers who want to come forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the HIV/STI/HeP C Sector at MOH’s Disease Control Division, Dr Fazidah Yuswan, said that 36 percent, or 29,941, of people living with HIV in Malaysia remain undiagnosed.
Therefore, she said the ministry will continue to intensify detection efforts, particularly among high-risk groups, to identify individuals living with HIV.
“As a community-friendly approach, HIV self-testing kits have also been introduced as an option for those who are still afraid or reluctant to visit healthcare facilities.
“They can obtain these kits through the Malaysian AIDS Council or selected community pharmacies.
“Each kit comes with a guide, where users are asked to assess their risk and take follow-up steps to ensure they are not infected with HIV or do not infect others,” she added. – TVS
