cases were reported among Singapore residents last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Health in June 2023.
Men who have sex with men accounted for about half of the cases, while men who have sex with women accounted for around 37 per cent. About 4 per cent of the cases were due to bisexual transmission.As of end-2022, the total number of HIV-infected Singapore residents stood at 9,331, of whom 2,362 had died.
“With early and effective treatment, people living with HIV can lead lives no different from others.” The doctors recommended that all those aged above 21 — except females above 65 — should be offered HIV screening at least once in their lifetime, unless they have risk factors that warrant repeated screening.
The doctors also recommended that healthcare and HIV testing service providers encourage individuals to disclose their HIV status to their spouse, current sex partners and previous sex partners. They should also be encouraged to get tested. The doctors noted that estimates based on data from 2020 indicate that 82 per cent of people in Singapore who have HIV infection know their status; 93 per cent of those who are aware of their status are on antiretroviral therapy; and 94 per cent of those on therapy have sustained viral suppression.