Zero New HIV Infections. Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS-Related Deaths. Backed by the United Nations, the "Getting to Zero" campaign runs until 2015 and builds on last year’s successful World AIDS Day "Light for Rights" initiative encompassing a range of vital issues identified by key affected populations.
The global HIV response is at a pivotal moment, where huge strides forward are at serious risk and current approaches are reaching their limits. Only one third of the 15 million people living with HIV and in need of life-long treatment are receiving it. New infections continue to outpace the number of people starting treatment, while the upward trend in resources suffered a serious downturn this year.
"Zero New HIV Infections" and "Zero Discrimination" are equally as likely to spark high impact events from small scale community vigils to nation wide events using the universally recognized shape of zeros and the power of light to get life and death issues the attention they deserve.
For December 1st 2011 right up until 2015 it’s envisioned that different regions and groups will each year chose one or all of the Zeros that best addresses their situation. The decision to go with the millennium development related goal of "Getting to Zero" comes after extensive discussions among people living with HIV, health activists, broader civil society and many others – more than a hundred organizations in all.
The vision for this year’s World AIDS Day and beyond may be aspirational, but the journey towards its attainment is laid with concrete milestones.
1. Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex
with men and transmission in the context of sex work;
2. Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced by half;
3. All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs;
4. Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment;
5. TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half;
6. All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support;
7. Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use or homosexuality that block effective responses reduced by half;
8. HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions;
9. HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses;
10. Zero tolerance for gender-based violence.
On the Malaysian front.
Many Malaysians are unaware of the AIDS risk that threaten our “rakyat”. Nine Malaysians are tested HIV-positive everyday while eight out of 10 lack knowledge on HIV and AIDS.
Ironically, these staggering figures are no longer presumptuously associated with the act of unsterile syringe exchange by drug users but by the escalating number of those infected through unprotected sex.
Ironically, these staggering figures are no longer presumptuously associated with the act of unsterile syringe exchange by drug users but by the escalating number of those infected through unprotected sex.
A total of 506 Malaysians of both sexes, aged 18 and above, were also part of the survey carried out by Durex between Sept 6 until Oct 3.
The scores also showed that 40 per cent of Malaysians take it lightly when it comes to using protection when having sex, while 34 per cent said they were clueless about their partners' sexual history.
The data was revealed during the launch of the Red Carnival event held recently at the Sungei Wang Plaza shopping centre in conjunction with the inaugural World AIDS Day on Dec 1.
The carnival was organized by PT Foundation, a community-based organisation advocating HIV and AIDS awareness and education, with the support of the Malaysian AIDS Council.
PT Foundation chairman Hisham Hussein who launched the carnival said more than 16,000 people have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses and about 90,000 are HIV carriers.
Reckitt Benckisser senior brand manager (Durex) Foo Sook Chuen said: "The survey findings are a clear indication that most Malaysians know very little about HIV and possess the attitude that will increase the risk of HIV infection.
A person can have HIV up to 10 years without showing any symptoms, so please do not think you can look at someone and tell that they are HIV positive. While you can be in a safe and loving relationship with a person who is HIV positive, you cannot go into a situation blind.
In 2012, it is important to talk to your sexual partner about HIV and STD testing.
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