French expert says HIV infections in Singapore higher than France

French expert says HIV infections in Singapore higher than France
By Wang Eng Eng/ Alicia Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 March 2010 2202 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 A nurse draws blood from a patient for an HIV test
	Related News • HIV testing, treatment in S'pore should be free: Nobel laureate  Video French expert says HIV infections in Singapore higher than France

 
SINGAPORE: A French HIV expert from the Institut Pasteur in Paris said she's surprised with Singapore's HIV infection numbers especially the over-400 new infections in 2008.

Prof Francoise Barre Sinoussi was in Singapore to share her latest findings on natural protection against AIDS.

Professor Francoise Barre Sinoussi said she was surprised at Singapore's HIV infection numbers.

She said the over 400 new infections in 2008 was higher than she thought it would be and comparatively higher even than France.

Professor Francoise Barre Sinoussi, Institut Pastuer, Paris, said: "If you calculate in proportion to the population in Singapore, it's a little bit more than my country in France. So this was something really new for me. Originally, I thought you had very few cases of infection in Singapore - that it was not really a problem, but that's not the case."

However, Singapore's Health Ministry said the rate of HIV prevalence among those aged 15 to 49 years old is similar to other developed nations like France - at 0.1 to 0.2 per cent of the general population.

Lionel Lee, executive director, Action for AIDS, said: "The numbers are actually not that high as compared to the rest of the countries. In fact, we attributed the increase to stepped-up efforts in testing with AFA as well as with other clinics.

“I think MOH has also launched six other GPs including AFA to be running the anonymous HIV testing services in Singapore that would have an impact on the number of detection in 2008."

While more people are coming forward for testing, Mr Lee said more can be done.

He said: "HIV AIDS is not only a public health problem. It transcends different stakeholders including the political level, community level, businesses including the media as well. Everyone has a role to play with regards to HIV prevention."

For the first ten months of 2009, the number of newly-infected Singaporeans with HIV was 378. 

- CNA/vm 

- wong chee tat :)

Some government agencies to relocate

Some government agencies to relocate
By Ong Dai Lin, TODAY | Posted: 09 March 2010 0756 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1

 
SINGAPORE: To free up more office space in the city for the private sector, several government agencies will be relocated to Jurong Gateway and Paya Lebar Central, announced National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.

The relocation would be timely as, "by 2015, the current supply of about 1 million square metres of office space in the pipeline should have been taken up", said Mr Mah.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and its statutory boards, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and Building and Construction Authority, will move to Jurong Gateway by 2015.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and its statutory boards, the Public Utilities Board and National Environment Agency, are also planning to relocate to Jurong Gateway then.

The Workforce Development Agency and its new Continuing Education and Training Campus, which is targeted to be completed by end-2013, will move to Paya Lebar Central.

- TODAY/sc 

- wong chee tat :)

Study on nuclear energy to begin this year

Study on nuclear energy to begin this year
Posted: 09 March 2010 0805 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Mr S Iswaran

SINGAPORE: A feasibility study by a multi-agency group of whether nuclear energy can be a long-term option for Singapore, will be commencing later this year.

The effort will be led by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, announced its Senior Minister of State S Iswaran on Monday, and it will aim to "ensure that we fully understand, and objectively evaluate from all perspectives, the opportunities, challenges and risks involved with nuclear energy".

Public concerns have been surfaced about the risks considering Singapore's size and population density.

"Indeed, these were some of the reasons for not considering the option before," acknowledged Mr Iswaran.

"But new technologies are being developed to address some of the key concerns associated with nuclear energy, and to make nuclear reactors smaller and safer, at a lower cost and with less high-level waste.

"Some of these technologies are in the early stages of commercialisation and we need to study if they could be feasible in our context."

Mr Iswaran made several arguments for mulling the nuclear option. It could "potentially enhance energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and mitigate the impact of volatile oil and gas prices".

Then, there are small states like Switzerland and island-nations like Japan that have made great strides in nuclear energy in the last four decades.

There is also "merit in building up our knowledge and expertise in nuclear science which has applications in diagnostic medicine and cancer treatment" - it could yield therapeutic and economic benefits, he added.

- TODAY/sc

- wong chee tat :)