Malaysia: UNGASS Country Progress Report 2005

The rise in HIV/AIDS has continued unabated since the first three cases of HIV in Malaysia were diagnosed in 1986. In recent years, the numbers reported have increased at an average rate of about 500 to 600 per month, and more than 7,000 have died. As of December 2004, official reports document 64,439 people with HIV/AIDS in Malaysia (Ministry of Health 2005). Despite efforts in the national response to contain the spread of this infectious disease, the United Nations MDG Report 2005 concluded that Malaysia has achieved commendable successes towards all the MDGs except in halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS (UNDP 2005). There is a serious concern that the HIV/AIDS situation may escalate to a general epidemic in the near future.