Singapore Reports 221 Confirmed HIV Cases in First Half of 2011

Singapore logged 221 new HIV diagnoses in the first half of 2011, compared to 214 in the same period last year, the daily Lianhe Zaobao reported Sunday.

“The possible reasons for this could be lack of knowledge and inaccurate perception of [patients’] individual risk,” Minister of State for Health Amy Khor said in announcing the numbers.

“There are also individuals who know they have high risks for HIV but are reluctant to go for HIV testing,” she said, likely because of the stigma that can accompany a positive result. “Society must play a bigger part in breaking down the barriers to HIV testing. People with HIV have lost their jobs and the much-needed social support as a result of their diagnosis. Such occurrences should not happen,” Khor said.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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