By: Azilleo Kristo Mozihim
Human Immunodefiency Virus, most commonly abbreviated in daily conversations as HIV, is a phrase that strikes fear into the hearts of many. The Malaysian community is of no exception. The issue of HIV is still considered a taboo topic to be discussed but this is not the case during a HIV talk presented by Professor Altice on the 18th of January at Baylis Theatre at 5 pm.
Professor
Frederick Lewis Altice is a professor from Yale University whose main research
interest lies in the interface between infectious disease and substance abuse.
He started the talk quite casually and did not consider it as a formal event
which can be obviously seen from the way he casually dressed. He stated that
HIV is a widespread infectious disease not only in Malaysia but also globally.
He showed a series of graphs illustrating the prevalence of HIV based on sexual
activities and demographical parameters such as race and age. He emphasised
that the treatment for HIV is not reaching those who needed them the most which
are the intravenous drug abusers. Also, the stigmatisation of HIV-infected
people should be dispelled because it deters them from going to healthcare
professional to seek prompt treatment. 
He paid a great deal of time talking
about the treatment of drug addiction particularly relating to prisoners. He
stated that prisoners who were drug abusers are treated with, ironically, drugs
such as naltrexone to assist in curbing their drug addiction. Based on his
research, those who were part of the drug therapy had significantly less chance
of relapsing into drug addiction than those who did not undergo the treatment
once released from incarceration. He also stated that prisoners are
significantly more likely than the general community to contract tuberculosis
and fifteen times more likely to be HIV-infected. He suggested that prisoners
who are infected with tuberculosis should not be placed in closed and tight
spaces with other prisoners to reduce the risk of transmission to uninfected
prisoners.
In
a nutshell, the talk given by Professor Altice emphasised the need to dispel
the stigmatisation and negative attitude surrounding HIV and substance abuse so
as to not deter those involved from seeking proper medical treatment. He
suggested that the healthcare system should be restructured
in such a way that it prevents those needing the treatment from being unfairly
judged and from being stigmatised. The talk ended around 6.30 pm with the
Academic Medicine Society (AMS) committee presenting to him a souvenir of
appreciation.
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