In its efforts to contain the HIV/Aids epidemic, the Ministry of Health has been urged not to miss out on one of the most vulnerable groups to HIV infection - the country's migrant workers.

There are about 2.8 million migrant workers in Malaysia - making up 23 percent of the working population - but much of the government's HIV/Aids prevention and treatment policy has been focused almost exclusively on the local population.

Urging the Health Ministry to accelerate its treatment and treatment delivery and to improve on the national Aids plan, Caram Asia - a regional organisation working on mobility and Aids issues - said this should include all vulnerable populations, including migrant workers.

Migrant communities in Malaysia and elsewhere pose as a high risk group due to their relative lack or little access to information on prevention or pre and post-test counseling as well as to affordable health care services, said Caram Asia's regional coordinator Cynthia Gabriel.

"When they are found to be HIV positive, they are simply deported without further assistance on how they can seek further treatment and care in their host or home countries," she said in an open letter to Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The letter was issued in conjunction with the Global Aids Week of Action.

Enabling environment

Gabriel urged the Ministry to create a more 'enabling environment' for HIV testing while upholding human rights standards, and to put in place referral mechanisms to ensure returnee migrants have adequate access to Aids treatment in their home countries.

Malaysia is said to face an impending HIV/Aids crisis, with the number of infected people rising fourfold to 300,000 by 2015.

Of the 75,000 people with HIV/Aids in a population of nearly 27 million, about three-quarters are intravenous drug users, although heterosexual transmissions are growing.

In the letter, Caram Asia also called on Asian governments to put pressure G8 countries, which are meeting next month in Germany, to deliver a clear plan for their commitment to universal access to AIDS treatment, prevention, and care.

"Access to AIDS treatment has expanded over the last three years at a rate so sluggish, that an estimated five million people (in the world) will die due to a lack of access to life saving care and treatment by 2010," said Gabriel.

In addition to technical support and other forms of assistance, G8 countries must fill the US$8-10 billion annual Global Fund funding gap that exists to ensure full and predictable funding, she added.

"Finally, we urge you to collaborate with civil society, NGOs, and health care providers to realise your Aids plans after inclusion of the above recommendations.

"Without your accelerated implementation of plans to boost access to Aids treatment, thousands will face imminent death," read the letter.