By 2015 about 300,000 Malaysians will be infected with HIV/AIDS with a drastic increase among women including housewives, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Other than dadah addicts, statistics by the Health Ministry showed that the virus has spread to fishermen, lorry drivers and factory workers,” he said when opening a lifelong health carnival here today.

Thalassemia patients were also on the rise with more than 2,500 infected with between 120 and 350 patients annually.

Chua urged those planning to get married to undergo tests to ensure that they were not Thalassemia carriers.

Deputy director-general of health (public health) Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat who read out Chua’s speech later told reporters that campaigns on a healthy lifestyle has succeeded in increasing public awareness.

“Although statistics on those with diabetis, heart ailments, high blood presssure and others do not decline, the rate of increase has dropped,” he added.

The Health Ministry has set aside an allocation of RM20 million for public awareness campaigns between last Sept and Sept this year.

– BERNAMA

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