Health Minister delivers his speech.

The world now faces an increasing AIDS epidemic, with some countries having to deal with a resurgence in new HIV infection rates where it was previously stable or decreasing. Brunei is not exempt from the scourge, but it is categorised as a country of 'lowest prevalence' by the World Health Organisation, where until today only 30 locals have been infected with AIDS.

This was stated by the Minister of Health, who was speaking as guest of honour at the World AIDS Day gathering that was held yesterday at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

"AIDS is a social disease of which the infection is related to social behaviour. By changing the social behaviour, one can avoid HIV/AIDS from spreading," added Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi.

The minister underlined the importance of the involvement of non-governmental organisations such as the AIDS Council in widening the broadcast of the message to the public, not only to practice high moral living, but also to not fall into free sexual lifestyles and drug abuse. The minister also highlighted the roles of such organisations in educating the public about AIDS patients so as not to stigmatise them "as this will impede efforts to prevent and cure it".

His Majesty's Government through the Ministry of Health has taken relevant action in handling the AIDS epidemic. Measures include executing health education and awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS through campaigns at national level, ensuring the blood supply is safe, preparing services to AIDS/HIV patients, Anti-viral medicine preparations and counselling and surveying the contemporary trend.

It is estimated that 4.3 million people in the world are newly infected with AIDS, with 65 per cent (2.8 million) occurring in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. The most obvious trend is in Eastern Europe and Central Asia where research has shown that the rate of infections had increased to more than 50 per cent since 2004. This year alone, some 2.9 million have died of HIV and AIDS or due to AIDS-related illnesses.

What further worries the world is that there is at present no vaccine that can cure AIDS patients. For that matter, prevention and control towards HIV infection is important to stop the infection from spreading further.

Of the 30 locals reported to have contracted HIV and AIDS, 21 are males and the rest females. Eighty per cent of them are between 20 to 49 years old, the minister disclosed, citing sexual transmission as the most common case. Of the total, 17 of them have died due to HIV and AIDS.

The guest of honour was earlier welcomed on arrival at the gathering by the Chairperson of the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council - Datin Hjh Edah bte Hj Mohd Noor. Also present were senior government officers, invited guests, government agencies, non-government and private sector organisations and several students from education institutions including STPRI, Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah and Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "You, Me and Us".

The daylong event also featured a forum entitled "The speciality of being youthful" that was chaired by Datin Hjh Adinah bte Othman - Director of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. The panel was made up of Dyg Hjh Hasnah bte Hj Omar of the Islamic Dakwah Centre, Dyg Hjh Gambar bte Hj Gapar of STPRI and lastly Dyg Lailatul Zubaidah bte Hussain of the State Judiciary Department. There was also a small exhibition to complement the day's event. The first World AIDS Day was marked on December 1, 1988 and has since been held as a yearly event.