STI Among Youths
The New Paper, Jan 20, 2010
"I wished someone had warned me"
HE WISHED someone had warned him that his wild lifestyle would ruin his life.
He wished he had listened to warnings about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people.
Now, he is in his 50s and have had more than 40 sex partners. He is also HIV positive.
His monthly medical bills are about $100 and he is jobless.
That, briefly, is what Clarence (not his real name) has to say of his life.
The sort of life that may await young people who have unprotected sex with multiple partners.
MP for Sembawang GRC Ellen Lee, 52, brought up the issue in Parliament last week.
In a written reply to a question by the lawyer, the Ministry of Health noted that the number of cases of STI other than HIV among those under age 20 more than doubled between 2000 and 2008.
Figures from the Department of STI Control (DSC) also showed that three people under 20 had been infected with HIV in 2002 and seven in 2008.
ADSC spokesman told The New Paper on Sunday of a 19-year-old girl who visited its clinic last year.
She had sex with a man in his 20s at his home "to please him although she was uncomfortable" with the idea initially. She backed out halfway during intercourse, but she was already infected with gonorrhoea.
Another teen - a 17-year-old male - shared his encounter with the clinic last year.
He had unprotected casual sex with two male partners he met at sauna spas.
He soon noticed ulcers around his private parts, and was eventually diagnosed with genital herpes.
Medication is available to manage recurring outbreaks of this viral infection, but it is incurable.
Clarence said he could identify with these young people because he, too, first had sex in his teens.
He said: "I already had a girlfriend then, but there was a rich man several years older than me, who took me to nice restaurants and offered me expensive gifts.
"I rejected the presents but I was curious. So I went with him to a hotel one day, and allowed him to touch me, although I was shivering with fear at first."
He said they didn't have sex that night, but that experience initiated him into the lifestyle of unprotected casual sex.
In 2005, he was diagnosed with HIV after doing a series of blood tests due to a prolonged fever.
He didn't know who infected him.
He resigned from his job as a waiter due to "constant weakness" and loss of weight to his 1.7m frame.
Other than pills to boost his immune system, the doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital also prescribed him with medication for depression.
"I'm just worried about not having enough money," he said. "I feel stronger now so I'm trying to get a job."
That's more fortunate than Faizal (not his real name)who finds it even harder to be employed.
Faizal, who's in his 30s, became partially blind after suffering from an eye infection a few years ago.
Said the former cleaner, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2004: "Due to the damaged immune system, even a simple illness can affect me seriously.
"I lied to my neighbours about my health condition, otherwise they will run away from me."
Faizal, too, had no idea who infected him with HIV.
He has had more than 10 sex partners since age 14.
Those like Clarence and Faizal may soon be able to use Medifund to subsidise their HIV medication.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health announced that from 1 Feb, Singaporeans will be able to use Medifund for HIV treatment - which is currently not covered by this endowment fund for needy Singaporeans.
This financial assistance will be subject to means-testing and proven needs.
Said Faizal, who's living off his elderly parents: "I don't know what my future will be like. But I'm glad that the Medifund is finally extended to us."