I AM not surprised to learn from the news that one in 350 people has HIV and is unaware of it. Why do we need to go to Sydney to find out the best practices in fighting HIV and Aids when the answers are right in front of our nose?

The main reason why Singapore has lost control over the fight against HIV is the daily influx of commercial sex workers (disguised as tourists) who are allowed to stay for weeks here to ply their trade, albeit illegally.

Are these women screened for HIV? No. They bring in the HIV virus and during their stay here spread it to hundreds of willing elderly men who do not bother to practise safe sex.

One need only to visit the latest thriving red-light district in Chinatown. Old men reason thus: Why worry about catching HIV when they are already so old and going to heaven soon? They also do not bother to test for HIV as ignorance is bliss. Then they spread it to their spouses. Hence HIV cases can only escalate.

Boatloads of men going by ferry to the nearby Riau Islands every weekend also bring in HIV, syphilis and gonorrhoea.

Men seeking cheap carnal pleasure overseas from both female and male partners, thanks to budget travel, also bring in HIV.

We don't force them to test for HIV on their return to Singapore or six-monthly, like we do mandatory tests for maids.

So all the answers are there. There is no need to go to Sydney to find out how to deal with the problem.

Dr Lim Boon Hee