Archive of "Fair reports on subject show paper is credible", The Straits Times, 20 April 1985

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Aids

Fair reports on subject show paper is credible

I WISH to commend your paper (or the (air and informed reporting on the subject of Aids Your stnct adherence to farts your avoidance of emo live language, and your choice of eau< ationa’l as opposed to exciting news angles show that your paper is responsible and credible Another newspaper in contrast, was a disappointment Your headlines. No danger from social contact" and "Don t pank over Aids*' reflected the facts But the other paper preferred headlines with rommer rial appeal

Its reporting serves only to cause panic among some members of the public Sensible response Aids, because it can be a fatal disease and is little understood, is more likely than other com municable diseases to cause fear in the publu The media, being the main source of information. should avoid a manner of reporting that would only heighten this panic.

Fortunately, we had the quick response of the Health Ministry i ST. April 16) — and what a sensible response it was.

It not only refuted the other paper’s report that the Aias scare had caused two doctors to resign and the staff of Middleton Hospital to “revolt", the* ministry also reiterated the facts that

• Steps had been taken to ensure the safety of medical staff: • Aids cannot be contracted through the shai ing of food or ordinary social contact. • People who are not promiscuous should not worry about getting Aids as It is contracted through intimate sexual contact

The facts which haw been reiterated by the ministry are worth repeating to counter the* damaging rippling effect of misinformed journalism.

It is unfortunate that there is a tendency to as sortatc homosexuals or homosexual!} with Aids The association is understandable as a high proportion of those afflict ed are homosexuals But the truth is, homosexuality per se does not bring about Aids It is promiscuity which increases the risk, of one contracting Aids There is also a tendency to confuse homosexuals with transexuals and transvestites W* now Know, from the interview with Dr Ratnam fST April 14) that the three "homosexual pros itules* afflicted arc actually transexuals.

Advice against promiscuity

The point lo note is not that the unfortunate victims are transexuals, transvestites, homosexuals or heterosexual-*, but that they lead a promiscuous lifestyle In this regard, I am glad that the comment was made in your paper that we should ro msei against promiscuity Readers should n< t be led to believe that sexual tty pei se or a particular group is responsible for Aids because that can start a witch-hind A-hcn moral panic grips society

NEUTRAL Singapore 1231 ess point that there is r o inger when giving blood

I RFFER to the interview with Dr YW Ong tST April 15)

Although Aids can he transmitted through blood transfusion, that is by receiving blood, it is not possible to contact Aids through blood donations This point shouid have been stressed during the interview, otherwis* the public could mfadnhrpre* this point This ml&tnterprt tation led to the blood b nk m Australia running o *y If such a thing cat hap pen in Australia, we can imagine what can 'uippcn in Singapore

BLOOD DONOR Singapore *31 <

=See also=
 * Archive of "Three in S’pore found with Aids-linked virus", The Straits Times, 10 April 1985
 * Archive of "Aids virus: Doctor who 'found it'", The Sunday Times, 14 April 1985
 * Archive of "A chance to be ahead in medicine", The Singapore Monitor, 16 April 1985
 * Archive of "Aids on ‘must report’ list", The Straits Times, 17 April 1985
 * Archive of "Undergrads to be taught about Aids", The Straits Times, 21 April 1885
 * Archive of "16 more may be carriers of Aids virus", The Straits Times, 30 April 1985
 * Archive of "Aids doctor thanks mum", The Straits Times, 12 May 1985
 * Archive of "Special lab to do Aids tests soon", The Straits Times, 18 May 1985
 * Archive of "Man with Aids related virus in hospital", The Straits Times, 21 July 1985
 * Archive of "Aids carrier leaves hospital", The Straits Times, 28 July 1985
 * Archive of "Ministry steps up Aids drive", The Straits Times, 5 September 1985
 * Archive of "Singapore ‘first in the world’ to have 100 % screening of donor blood", The Straits Times, 11 September 1985
 * Archive of "S’pore-Stanford research tie-up bid", The Straits Times, 10 October 1985
 * Archive of "Aids: 20,000 cleared", The Straits Times, 29 November 1985
 * Archive of "200 turn up for first public medical convention", The Straits Times, 28 April 1986
 * Archive of "Screening tests likely to uncover more Aids carriers", The Straits Times, 1 May 1986
 * Archive of "100 people could be Aids carriers here: Expert", The Straits Times, 3 August 1986
 * Archive of "Aids claims first victim here", The Straits Times, 11 April 1987
 * Archive of "Fear of Aids pushes up condom sales", The Straits Times, 19 April 1987
 * Archive of "Govt dental clinics phasing out boiling", The Straits Times, 1 October 1987
 * Earliest cases of HIV/AIDS in Singapore
 * HIV/AIDS in Singapore's LGBT community
 * Paddy Chew
 * Avin Tan
 * Ajmal Khan
 * Calvin Tan
 * Adrian Tyler

=References=
 * "Fair reports on subject show paper is credible", The Straits Times, 20 April 1985[].

=Acknowledgements=

This article was archived by Roy Tan.