Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1098850
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 MARCH 2019 he contends that Malta is years behind on keeping up with to- day's sexual tendencies. "Stigma on HIV arises from misinformation or lack of in- formation at schools. Sexu- al health and relationships should be included in the na- tional curricula. This would equip the students with the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision on the behaviours they engage in," he said. Rapa is the founder of prEPing Malta – a reference to the once-daily prEP pill, a pre- exposure prophylaxis which Rapa says prevents acquisition of HIV with over 99% effec- tiveness. "Introducing prEP makes sense both from a public health and financial perspective, so I don't understand the gov- ernment's delay," Rapa said, especially when considering that studies by the World Health Organisation suggest- ed that reported cases of HIV increased by 50% in Malta last year. This statistic, Rapa argued, might indicate the increase of people being tested at the Genitourinary (GU) clinic at Mater Dei. In 2017, the GU clinic carried out a total of 5,864 consultations, of which only 107 were people aged under 18. The most common conditions identified were genital warts, chlamydia and herpes. 45 cases of HIV were identified. The clinic has re- cently introduced free rapid testing and self-tests for the public from pharmacies. Rapa says that preventing HIV is not a case of dictat- ing abstention from sex or scaring youngsters into us- ing contraceptives. "People have a right to conduct their life in the way they deem best for themselves. It's not up to us to dictate what they should or should not do in the privacy of their own homes," he says, adding that it was a question of government deciding which information would be of rel- evance to its audience and how best to deliver it. The HIV activist said that people are still haunted by the dark images of 1980s cam- paigns. Since then, the lives of people with HIV have im- proved considerably and they can live long and healthy lives without ever contracting AIDS. "Sadly, in Malta, we are still prescribing old drugs which have adverse effects on both the physical and mental health of the patients. In any state- funded healthcare service, there will always be compet- ing claims on what medication one ought to include in the national formulary. Questions on the quality of life of patients and scarcity of resources need to be addressed. Introducing newer HIV treatments would not only improve the quality of life of people living with HIV but would also see a reduction in treating complications as a result of lifelong use of toxic medications," Rapa says. Even the law, Rapa argues, is questionable. Maltese law ascribes criminal responsibil- ity to people transmitting the virus even when they are not aware of being infected. "Which persons are reason- ably expected to know that they might be living with HIV? Many would say: men who have sex with men, but globally more than 50% of the people living with the virus are wom- en. Those who have multiple partners? One need not have had multiple partners to ac- quire HIV." He adds that currently there is a strong international move- ment to remove HIV criminal- isation laws, which Rapa says contribute to unjust prosecu- tions and convictions. "We must keep in mind that in prosecuting a person who was unaware of his infection, you are putting two victims before the courts because even the defendant is a victim here," Rapa says. "We do not have the science to prove beyond a rea- sonable doubt that person A transmitted the virus to person B." dhudson@mediatoday.com.mt NEWS Arts Council Malta is recruiting for the position of: Head Creative Europe Desk – Culture The role of Head (Culture) of the Creative Europe Desk is to promote the funding programme on a national level whilst assisting applicants in developing projects, preparing funding applications and building international partnerships. Arts Council Malta is the National Agency for Development and Investment in the cultural and creative sectors. Further information can be found on www.artscouncilmalta.org If you are interested in becoming part of our team, kindly apply by sending a CV on vacancies@artscouncilmalta.org by 19/04/2019. Jobsplus permit number 174/2019. VACANCY 'Government doesn't talk about sex,' activist says Mark Joseph Rapa, a law graduate from the University of Malta, is now a teaching assistant at the University of Manchester "In Malta, we are still prescribing old drugs which have adverse effects on both the physical and mental health of the patients"