KUCHING: Those exposed to sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) have been advised to seek early treatment to prevent the diseases from progressing to diseases like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and transmitted to other individuals.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said part from diseases such as breast cancer and cervix cancer, STD is also a disease related to private parts of the body, and not many people seek early treatment.
“This is truly worrying to us, and they only come in when it is already in the late stage. We do not want that to happen, and we want to continue to educate the targeted group,” she said in response to a statement from Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on 913 Malaysian teenagers as early as 13 years old being tested positive for STD from 2018 to 2022.
She was speaking to reporters after visiting the Sarawak Association for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Children (PERKATA) here today.
On another note, Fatimah said the focus group also comprised young adults, especially those in secondary schools.
“When we first started, STD cases were mainly detected among housewives for example. Now that we found out there are young adults involved, our focus is on them as well.
“Regardless of who are exposed or infected, please come forward as soon as possible to get early treatment,” she added.
Earlier, Fadhlina revealed that there were 255 cases of STDs among students aged 13 to 17 years in 2018 while 225 cases were recorded in 2019.
“A total of 191 STDs cases were recorded in 2020, 96 cases in 2021, and 146 cases in 2022.
“The most common STDs were syphilis, gonorrhoea, chancroid and HIV,” she said.
