HIV

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread through certain bodily fluids from a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without using a condom or taking medicine to prevent or treat HIV) or through sharing injection drug equipment, such as needles. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

There is currently no effective cure for HIV, but it can be controlled with proper care. By taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use for people who are considered at risk for HIV, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

AIDS

AIDS, or advanced HIV infection, is a late or advanced stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body's immune system is badly damaged because of the virus. A person receives an AIDS diagnosis when:

• their CD4 cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood (or 200 cells/mm³) (A healthy CD4 count is above 500 cells/mm³); or
• they develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless of their CD4 count.

To learn more information about HIV/AIDS, please visit:

• NCID: HIV/AIDS
• NCID: HIV/ AIDS situation in Singapore
• HealthHub: HIV and AIDS

HIV Testing

Getting tested for HIV is the only way to know your HIV status. Knowing your status is important to keep you and your partner healthy. Delay in the detection and diagnosis leads to late initiation of treatment with poorer prognosis and outcomes, increasing the risk of onward transmission of infections.

In Singapore, HIV testing is traditionally performed in hospitals, clinics and through services provided by community-based organisations. Some clinics provide the options of rapid testing with results delivered in 20 minutes, or anonymous testing services. In 2008, the Ministry of Health (MOH) also implemented a voluntary opt-out screening (VOS) programme for all adult inpatients in public restructured hospitals to improve detection rates and reduce the prevalence of undiagnosed and late-stage diagnosis HIV infection.

HIV self-testing is currently available under the pilot programme, and may be widely available in the near future.

The national recommendation for HIV testing can be found below under ‘National Recommendations and Guidelines’.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a risk-reduction treatment against HIV, which involves the use of HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) to prevent HIV transmission. PrEP will be prescribed to HIV-negative individuals who are considered at high risk of acquiring HIV infection by doctors. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is effective for preventing HIV. Since PrEP only protects against HIV, condom use is still important to prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Talk to your doctor if you are interested in PrEP.

For more information regarding PrEP, please click here. PrEP services are also available at other public and private institutions in Singapore.

For any other PrEP related enquiries, please call the HIV PrEP clinic at (65) 6357 7000 or email [email protected]

The national guidance for PrEP can be found below under ‘National Recommendations and Guidelines’.

Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) refers to taking a course of ART to reduce the chance of HIV transmission after a recent high-risk exposure (usually within 72 hours). A high-risk exposure to HIV includes:

• any unprotected anal or vaginal sex with a partner who is HIV positive or a person in a HIV-risk group (commercial sex workers, IV drug users, men who have sex with men/ bisexual men),
• sharing of or exposure to contaminated needles or blades, particularly needle-stick injuries, or
• victims of sexual assault.

PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV. It is not a substitute for other HIV prevention methods such as consistent condom use, and it is not meant for regular use by people who may be exposed to HIV frequently. One should consider pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) instead if there is repeated exposure to HIV (see PrEP above). Talk to your doctor if you think you need PEP.  

Should you require PEP after operating hours, over the weekends and/or during the public holidays, please visit the Emergency Department of any public hospitals and request for PEP.

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an effective treatment for HIV. It involves taking a combination of HIV medicine every day. ART is recommended for all people who are infected with HIV. Although ART cannot cure HIV, it can control the virus and help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. ART can also reduce the risk of HIV transmission (see Treatment as Prevention); however, it does not prevent transmission of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The national recommendations for ART can be found below under ‘National Recommendations and Guidelines’.

Treatment as Prevention (TasP)

Treatment as Prevention (TasP) is the use of ART to prevent the transmission of HIV. It works when people living with HIV (PLHIV) take their HIV medicine exactly as prescribed and have regular follow-up care for viral load testing, to ensure the viral load is suppressed and stays undetectable (<50 copies/ml). PLHIV with undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to others (i.e., Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U)).

To learn more about TasP, please click below under ‘Publication and Media’.

​NHIVP consistently hosts a series of education and training events to both healthcare professionals and general population to increase HIV awareness and prevention. 

For Healthcare Professionals:

Healthcare Worker Stigma and Discrimination Online Modules (coming soon)

The Healthcare Worker Stigma and Discrimination Online Modules is a series of comprehensive web-based educational modules, aiming to increase HIV-related knowledge, especially regarding HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The goal is to assist healthcare workers in recognising their own unconscious bias and discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV, and help them adopt and promote best practices in the care of people living with HIV. The modules are interactive and catered to various roles in healthcare institutions (for example, nurses, doctors, PSAs, and healthcare students). It will be available to all healthcare workers in Singapore.

PrEP Prescriber Course   

The PrEP Prescriber Course is to educate and equip general practitioners, primary care doctors and people who work with individuals at risk of HIV infection with the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide PrEP services.

PrEP Prescriber Course 2022

For Everyone:

HIV Community Engagement Forum 

The HIV Community Engagement Forum aims to bring together people from all walks of life, such as infectious disease specialists, healthcare professionals who do not specialise in the field of infectious diseases, community members working with HIV populations and the general population with limited or no knowledge of HIV, to engage in dialogues and discussions in order to raise awareness and combat various misconceptions surrounding HIV.

HIV Community Engagement Forum 2021: Increasing HIV Testing in Singapore

Singapore HIV Congress (SHC)

The Singapore HIV Congress (SHC), started in 2019, is held once every two years. It brings together the medical, scientific and academic fraternity in a forum to present the latest developments in HIV medicine and related fields. The aim of the congress is to provide an avenue for exchange of ideas spurred by new findings in HIV testing, treatment, prevention and HIV stigma in the public domain.

World AIDS Day started in 1988 and takes place on 1 December each year. It is an international day for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Every year, NHIVP commemorates WAD through activities to raise awareness about HIV, challenge misconceptions about HIV transmission and infection, and develop empathy and solidarity between people living with HIV and healthcare workers.

World AIDS Day 2021: Following Jason's Journey – Diagnosis and Beyond

World AIDS Day 2020: We are in this together

To receive information about the events, please email: [email protected]

​NHIVP has been actively working with various partners on educational campaigns busting myths and misconceptions, and raising awareness for HIV-related topics such as HIV transmission and prevention, and HIV de-stigmatisation through the following:

National Campaigns

With early and effective treatment, people living with HIV can lead lives no different from others (2021)

Content Pieces

1. Mothership, NCID: Living with HIV Half-truths
2. Rice Media Editorial piece, SNEF: Is Silence Really Golden When it Comes to Disclosing HIV Status at Work?
3. MOSG TDK #61, NCID: Why is HIV still Taboo In Singapore?
4. MOSG Micro-documentary, NUH: The REAL HIV issue in Singapore - Despite decades of research and development, medical advancements, and public education, why do people living with HIV in Singapore continue to face stigma and discrimination?

It's Time to Spread the Facts (2019)

Expert Opinion

1. NCID, 2021: Ending HIV (and its stigma) in Singapore - the ambitious goal of the NHIVP

2. The Straits Times, 2020: HIV and COVID-19: Lessons from two plagues

3. The Straits Times, 2019: Need to maintain trust with people living with HIV

Conference Presentations

1. Choy, CY. Treatment as prevention: U=U, 11^th Singapore AIDS Conference, Singapore, 8 Dec 2018

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