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Cover story: Who's afraid of AIDS? Part 1

Who's afraid of AIDS?

Despite public education and volumes written about the subject, many people are still clueless about AIDS. To commemorate World Aids Day on 1 Dec, we debunk some popular myths and look at how the disease has affected society. Plus what you should know about other sexually transmitted diseases

After more than two decades, doctors here are still battling ignoring concerning HIV and its dreaded and often deadly offspring, AIDS.

The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV weakens the body's immune defenses by destroying CD4 (T-cell) lymphocytes. These are white blood cells that protect against attacks by bacteria, viruses and other harmful pathogens.

AIDS, or acquired immune defiency syndrme, is the final and most serious stage of HIV infection. Since its emergence here and around the world in the early- and mid-1980s, HIV has acquired a shield of horror and mystery, so much so that the truth often becomes obscured, says Dr Lee Cheng Chuan, senior consultant and head of the HIV Programme at the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC), Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

"There are unfortunately a large number of myths surrounding HIV and AIDS here, manuy of them damaging and dangerous," he says.

One of these is the belief that only "dirty old men" or "homos" get it, leaving clean, healthy Singaporeans largely safe from the disease. "The fact is this - the virus does not discriminate, so we shouldn't either. HIV can infect anyone of any inclination, from any gender and age groups and across occupations. Anyne who practices unsafe sex is at higher risk of contracting HIV," says Dr Lee firmly.

He is quick to debunk another common belief - that the young are less susceptible because they possess strong immune systems.

"This is an extremely dangerous myth because it excuses reckless behaviour. When people are young and at their prime, they think they are invulnerable. They dont think of death often, so they tend not to take steps to protect themselves," laments Dr Lee, who has 12 years of experience managing HIV and AIDS.

The truth is quite the opposite, as statistics here clearly show. In 2006, of the 357 new cases of HIV infection, more than half were aged between 30 and 49 years of age. More significantly, just under one-fifth - 57 cases - were aged between 20 and 29 years of age.

As for the myth that HIV sufferers are sexual "deviants" such as homosexuals, Dr Lee has this simple refute: About two thirds of all cases occurred via heterosexual sex.

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In our part 2 we will reveal that HIV isnt the only sexually transmitted disease to worry about. Do you know what are they? We reveal soon. Check back :)