KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: People with HIV/Aids are still affected by the stigma attached to the disease, Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said yesterday.

She said it was prevalent in workplaces and schools and among healthcare workers.

"They (healthcare workers) are the worst culprits. There are private hospitals that refused to accept expectant mothers who have Aids and doctors who refused to do surgery," she said at a press conference after launching World AIDS Day at Berjaya Times Square yesterday.

Present was Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Dr Adeeba said she once had a patient with Aids and her employer was unsure what to do when they found out about her condition.

"We held meetings and finally they agreed to keep her after much persuasion but the problem did not end there. Her co-workers refused to eat or talk with her."

She said the council was also finding it difficult to talk about the subject openly, especially on the broadcast media, so that the public would be more aware of the disease.

One of the reasons, she said, was that the word "condom" was banned on air.

"We are not able to give out proper information about Aids and how people get infected because we are not allowed to use this word on air."

As of June, about 82,700 HIV-infected individuals have been reported to the Health Ministry.

Of this, some 14,100 are AIDS cases and more than 10,000 have died of the disease.

However, she said there was more hope for people with HIV/Aids now as more medication was available. She said treatment had improved.

"Studies have shown that for someone who contracts Aids at the age of 20, he or she can live up to 49. They can still work and probably retire from their jobs."