Singapore will not promote condom use publicly to fight AIDS

[free]

Source. (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1508&ncid=1508&e=1&u=/afp/20041114/hl_afp/health_aids_singapore_041114070311)

Singapore will not promote condom use publicly to fight AIDS: report

Sun Nov 14, 2:03 AM ET Health - AFP

SINGAPORE (AFP) - Despite facing an "alarming AIDS (news - web sites) epidemic," Singapore will not go on a publicity blitz to promote condom use out of respect for residents who hold conservative views on sexual behaviour, a minister said.

"To educate people you don't have to be offensive," Senior Minister of State for Health Balaji Sadasivan was quoted as saying on the website of Channel NewsAsia, a Singapore-based regional broadcaster.

"We must recognise there are conservative people in Singapore and there's no need to say the only way to educate people is to try do it in an in-your-face approach," Balaji said late Saturday.

Balaji warned in an address to medics last week that the number of new AIDS cases in Singapore was doubling every three to four years.

Figures from the World Health Organisation showed an estimated 4,000 Singaporeans had HIV (news - web sites), the virus that leads to AIDS, he said. There are about three million Singaporeans living in the city-state and another 1.3 million foreigners.

"If we do not act, by 2010 we may have more than 15,000 HIV persons in Singapore," Balaji said.

"We are facing an alarming AIDS epidemic in Singapore," he said.

He said gay men's unsafe sexual practices were the biggest cause of concern amid the alarming rise in HIV/AIDS infection cases.


That's how it normally goes. Don't dare offend ignorant people to save the lives of your citizens, and just blame it on gay people.

Some people need to get in touch with reality.

No, wait, I change my mind. They don't need to know how to protect themselves. They can figure it out on their own.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20041114/capt.sge.fub49.141104070304.photo00.photo.default-384x275.jpg

[jeo4]

Way to go, Singapore! Your AIDS epidemic will make you the most popular tourist site on the planet!

Then again, you could be the laughing stock of the entire planet...who knows?!

[Jon Lyrik]

Yeah, because not offending the sensibilities of repressed conservatives is more important than stopping a lethal disease from becoming an epidemic in your country.

[Raoul Duke]

Old people suck...Especially the ultra-conservative ones.

Teaching abstinence is a big joke to young teens and the lot..The only realistic way to combat the epidemic there is to promote safe sex.

[electriclite]

And good luck to ya. :rolleyes: :confused:

[Tweek]

Teaching abstinence is a big joke to young teens and the lot..The only realistic way to combat the epidemic there is to promote safe sex.

I agree, Raoul.

Jeez, protecting the conservative viewpoints or containing a disease? I would think the choice was obvious!

Bah

[bob]

Agreed completely. Preaching/teaching abstinence is not going to work, and I'm wondering when people will come to terms with that.

[flowrchild]

While that is very disturbing news, I can't help but think we suffer many of the same problems in our own country. Many conservatives don't want to offer sexual education classes or give away condoms in school, thinking it will promote promiscuity. Even US presidents have shared and encouraged this philosophy.

So while it's definitely a shame, it ain't too far from home.

[bob]

Originally posted by flowrchild
Many conservatives don't want to offer sexual education classes or give away condoms in school, thinking it will promote promiscuity.

But the way I see it, wouldn't you rather have kids having TONS of protected sex than unprotected sex just once?

[flowrchild]

Originally posted by bob
But the way I see it, wouldn't you rather have kids having TONS of protected sex than unprotected sex just once?

100%. I am not of the mentality that there shouldn't be sex ed classes in schools, or protection distributed. I'm the exact opposite. But a lot of the country agrees with the Singapore mentality on this matter, sadly.

[Patrick Bateman]

Well we live in a country that honestly promotes SEX. From films, to music videos. So I see this becoming much, much more of a problem in the future, than not. Especially when conservatives refuse to educate young people on safe sex because it may promote promiscuity. :rolleyes:

Although condom use is VERY important in the fight against AIDS, lets also remember that they are not 100% effective.
Latex or polyurethane (plastic) condoms are useful in helping to prevent certain diseases, such as HIV and Gonorrhea. However, they are less effective in protecting against Herpes, Trichomoniasis, and Chlamydia. Condoms provide almost NO protection against HPV, the cause of Genital Warts and Cervical Cancer.

So it goes without saying that a substantial number of people relying on condoms to avoid STDs, will ultimately contract them nonetheless.

Although condoms will reduce your chance of infection. Compared to those having sex without any form of protection.

Sadly though, one in three AIDS victims will contract the disease from an infected partner despite 100% use of condoms. One study found that among married couples where one partner was HIV-positive, 17% of the uninfected spouses contracted the disease, despite the use of condoms. The best way to prevent AIDS, or any form of STD is indeed abstinence. Although sadly, thats not being anywhere near realistic.

Condom use, fewer sex partners, and having a monogamous relationship with someone who may not be perfect, but is just as fucked up as you are ... honestly wouldnt be a bad idea. :cool:

Thats my opinion.

[flowrchild]

Originally posted by Patrick Bateman
Well we live in a country that honestly promotes SEX. From films, to music videos.

I know, there are a lot of mixed messages being sent out. On one hand 'sex sells', and it's constantly bombarded on us in every possible form of the media. Another message is that premarital sex is a sin and you should wait until marriage. Considering the reality that most people are going to have sex long before marriage, the best thing we can do is educate them about having SAFE sex so that they don't end up destroying their lives for acting upon a natural impulse.

I agree with you that condoms are not the cure-all for everything, but they substantially help lower a variety of problems inflicting society, and I think they should be promoted. There are very few things that are 100% fool-proof, but it would help the epidemic.

[Patrick Bateman]

I hope you didnt misunderstand me. I am completely for the use of condoms. Anyone who doesnt use them is just asking for trouble IMO.

The point of my post was to educate anyone who may, or may not engage in casual sex, and think that condoms would protect them from any and all STD's.

That is misleading.

Having lots of safe sex is great! And honestly the only way to go. I just ask to choose your partners carefully please.

[flowrchild]

Oh yea, I understood you. Condoms are important but they do not protect you from everything. Also people rarely use protection from oral sex, which can also give you a variety of diseases you do not want.

I just wish sexual education was more prevalent, in our country and across the world. Ignorance is often a death sentence in this day and age.

[Patrick Bateman]

Originally posted by flowrchild
Ignorance is often a death sentence in this day and age.

Exactly.

I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.