| James Kon |
HEALTHCARE workers in the country were yesterday provided with the latest information on HIV prevention, treatment and care in Brunei Darussalam during the National HIV Symposium for Healthcare Professionals 2018 held at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
The event, held to commemorate World AIDS Day 2018, was organised by the Ministry of Health through the Health Promotion Centre in collaboration with UBD’s PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences and the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council’s (BDAIDSCouncil) Penyinar Club.
The symposium’s goal is to reduce the stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with HIV in Brunei and provide opportunities to network with other stakeholders in HIV and AIDS work in Brunei Darussalam.
Legislative Council member, Chairman of the Organising Committee and President of the BDAIDSCouncil Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad highlighted the lingering mortal heft posed by HIV and AIDS in his symposium remarks.
On the symposium’s theme ‘Know Your Status’, Yang Berhormat Iswandy said that it is aimed at getting more people tested for the disease on the occasion of World AIDS Day.
“Anyone who feels that they are at risk should know their status and seek HIV testing,” he said. “Confidential testing involves a simple blood test that is available at most health facilities, if you are uncomfortable going to a government health facility, Jerudong Park Medical Centre and Panaga Health Centre provide voluntary confidential counselling and testing.”
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar the guest of honour at the event, also launched the BDAIDSCouncil website.
The symposium saw the presentation of a keynote lecture on best practices in HIV programmes in the region by Head of Mission and World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore Dr Ying Ru Jacqueline Lo.
Several talks were also delivered by speakers from National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore; PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, UBD; Jerudong Park Medical Centre; and local doctors from the Ministry of Health.