Singapore Statistics

1
Singapore - Statistics

• 2006 357 new cases of HIV/AIDS infections
  reported (AFP, 2007)
• These cases represent a 10 increase
• Brings the total number of cases of people
  diagnosed with the disease to 3,060
• Of the 3,060 cases
• 1,048 have died
• 1,307 show no signs of illness
• 705 have AIDS-related illnesses
• The rising number of cases still primarily effect
  the male population
• In 2005, 89.8 of people reporting HIV infections
  were men
• However, the risk to women remains high due to
  the high rates of infection through sexual
  transmission
• The Ministry of Health reports that more than 90
  of new HIV infections in 2006 were through sexual
  transmission
• 2/3 of which were heterosexual sex

2
Singapore - Statistics
Source WHO 2006 Epidemiological Fact Sheets -
Singapore
3
Reported HIV Cases - Singapore
4
Main Concerns - Singapore

• Stigmatization
• One of the major concerns within Singapore is the
  stigmatization of being recognized as
  HIV-positive.
• In 1999, only one activist diagnosed with AIDS
  had publicly come forth
• Since that time, Paddy Chew has passed away from
  the disease
• In 2000, a 20 year old came forth via the
  internet under the pseudonym Natashya Yong to
  help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS
• The feeling that people cannot freely discuss
  their HIV-positive status hinders testing,
  treatment, and prevention
• Need for Private Testing
• The stigma attached to HIV-positive diagnosis in
  Singapore means the need for anonymous testing is
  extremely important
• Currently, there are only 3 trial clinics that
  the Singapore government has authorized private
  testing to be conducted

5
Main Concerns - Singapore

• What if the epidemic moves into mainstream?
• In the 1980s, the majority of transmissions
  occurred between homosexual or bisexual men
• Currently, this rate of transmission is much
  higher for heterosexual sex
• The MOH specialty website regarding AIDS states
  that most Singaporean men who are infected with
  HIV had sex with prostitutes either locally or
  overseas. Singaporean women usually get infected
  by their husbands or boyfriends (About AIDS,
  2006)
• This begs the question that if the epidemic
  continues to grow, how will Singapore react to
  the spread to women who are not engaged in risk
  associated behavior?
• What forms of prevention and education is
  occurring to protect married women or women in
  stable relationships?
• If the epidemic moves into mainstream, the rate
  of transmission will probably likewise increase
• Singapore government
• Lack of detailed information
• Government should do a better job of tracking the
  HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• To date, there is no information regarding STIs,
  estimated number of people receiving ART,
  pediatrics estimates, coverage of HIV testing and
  counseling, knowledge and behavior, injecting
  drug users (WHO Epidemiological Survey)

6
Conclusions of AfA in conjunction with other
organizations survey conducted in 2006
7
Action for AIDS (AfA) Singapore

• AfA offers three main programs
• Clinical Services
• The first anonymous testing center in Singapore
• Results in 20 min
• Counselors available pre- and post-testing
• Education and Outreach
• Produce The ACT, which deals with medical,
  personal, cultural and social issues
• HIV Education in the Workplace
• Provide trained specialist to speak to
  organizations or companies to raise awareness
• Be Aware, Be Safe Programme
• In conjunction with Standard Chartered and the
  Red Cross
• Initiative dedicated to youth and schools to
  raise awareness
• Project Streetwalker
• Volunteers provide material and information to
  freelance sex workers
• High Risk Heterosexual Men Outreach Programme
• Targets men at high risk with information and
  materials (safer sex packs)

8
AfA Singapore (contd)

• AfA offers three main programs (contd)
• Support and Welfare
• Endowment Fund for Anti-Retroviral (ARV)
  medications
• Provides financial assistance to needy PWAs who
  cant afford these medications
• Pregnant HIV Mothers Fund
• Maintains a second fund for pregnant HIV mothers
  who cant afford ARV
• The Buddies Programme
• Volunteers offer emotional and practical help for
  HIV-positive persons
• Life Goes On
• Self-help patient support groups
• Club Genesis (MSM only)
• Survivors
• Family Support Network
• Muslim
• Legal Assistance

9
AfA Singapore (contd)

• Additional Activities
• Worked with activist, Natashya Yong, to help her
  get the word out via the internet
• The AfA website still states that they are the
  only source for anonymous testing
• However, the government announced in 2007 that
  anonymous testing will be available at 3 clinics
  participating in a pilot program
• Have worked with Standard Chartered to increase
  awareness in schools

10
AfA Singapore (contd)

• Posters targeting sex workers

11
AWARE Singapore

• Aware Training Institute (ATI)
• To build awareness of womens issues
• Enable women to develop their personal,
  political, community and professional capacities
• Ensure that women have access to training
  opportunities that will grow their knowledge,
  skills, and networks
• In 2006 one of the Social Empowerment training
  programs was on the subject of HIV/AIDS
• White Ribbon Campaign (WRI)
• Focuses on violence against multiple targets
• Women
• Family
• Foreign domestic workers
• Campaign encourages and is now actively
  controlled by the male chapter of AWARE
• Possible connection of violence against women and
  HIV/AIDS though AWARE has yet to pursue this

12
AWARE Singapore (cont.)

• HIV/AIDS Subcommittee
• Aims to raise public awareness of HIV infection.
  We are reaching out to women of all ages who are
  at risk of HIV infection so that they can be
  empowered to protect themselves
• Sept 2006, Sex in the City Protect You and Your
  Family
• In partnership with AfA
• The forum served to
• Create awareness of the rise in STI, especially
  in teenaged girls and married women
• Encourage the practice of safer sex
• Understand the psyche of why couple stray, and
  teach women how to protect themselves
• Avenues and recourse available to women were
  discussed
• Workshops followed the initial discussion, and
  included factual information about HIV/AIDS.
  Sexually transmitted infections (STI), detection
  and prevention while dispelling myths

13
AWARE Singapore (cont.)

• HIV/AIDS Subcommittee
• August 2005, Playing it Safe Keeping HIV at Bay
• Explored issues of HIV and women in Singapore,
  placing within global context
• Discussed the rise of STIs in Singapore, and the
  link between these and possible HIV infection
• Discussed the inherent contradictions within the
  ABC Campaign and discussed other effective
  means of preventing infection
• Speaker from AfA focused on
• AfAs activities in preventing HIV transmission
• Helping those living with HIV/AIDS
• Testing those who want to retain anonymity
• Offering pre- and post-test counseling about safe
  sex practices and implications of being tested
  positive

14
General Questions in Singapore

• What do you feel to be the main challenges in
  Singapore regarding HIV/AIDS?
• What methods is your organization utilizing in
  order to combat the stigma and discrimination
  felt by HIV-positive persons in Singapore?
• Why has the stigma attached to HIV diagnosis been
  so severe in Singapore (to the point that very
  few activists can even be found who are HIV)
• Have you seen progress over the past decade in
  the fight against HIV/AIDS?
• Do you feel that Singaporeans have a high
  awareness regarding the transmission, protection
  and awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic?
• Has the government demonstrated an adequate
  response to the increasing rate of infections in
  Singapore?
• In the past, HIV transmission was much more
  prevalent among MSW and bisexual men. Recently,
  HIV transmission has been rapidly shifting toward
  heterosexual sex. What do you feel the
  ramifications of this shift in modes of
  transmission will have on the epidemic in
  Singapore

These are my general thoughts concerning
questions in Singapore
15
General Questions in Singapore

• In the past, HIV transmission was much more
  prevalent among MSW and bisexual men. Recently,
  HIV transmission has been rapidly shifting toward
  heterosexual sex. What do you feel the
  ramifications of this shift in modes of
  transmission will have on the epidemic in
  Singapore?
• What effects will this have on the HIV rate among
  women?
• What means is your organization taking to battle
  this trend?
• Can you tell us what you consider to be the most
  important triumph/challenge that your
  organization has faced concerning HIV/AIDS?
• What work has your organization conducted that
  specifically targets the associated link between
  the violation of womens rights and the spread of
  HIV?

These are my general thoughts concerning
questions in Singapore