The Euro HIV Index (EHIVI) has ranked Malta as the second best place in Europe when it comes to the care and the conditions of AIDS patients.

While this is positive in itself, the report as a whole says that its conclusions are simply that there is “still a lot to do” in the fight against the spread of HIV. While the country should be satisfied that it offers AIDS patients good care, we cannot, in any way, form or manner, rest on our laurels.

The same report urges Malta to put an emphasis on the prevention of HIV transfer, adding that, in recent years, the number of people infected with HIV has quadrupled. Many will argue that immigration is one of the causes. No hiding behind trees and throwing cheap shots – they are right. Half the cases of HIV infection involve African migrants and the EHIVI analysts have warned us that there is a risk that the good performance registered so far deteriorates due to the lack of financial support and human resources. The EHIVI analysts also warned that risky sexual behaviour was becoming a more regular practice across the board, and Malta is not excluded.

The issue of HIV and AIDS prevention has to be taken into the context of the fact that Malta still does not have a Sexual Health Policy Document, and at this point a brief history must be given. This newspaper has been chasing the relevant authorities for months on end to find out when this much-needed document is to be published.

It has been in the pipeline for 10 long years, yet there still seems to be procrastination at Cabinet level. A draft policy was rejected some two years ago after it was decided that any reference to the word ‘condom’ should be removed.

Since then, the relevant people have been hard at work drafting a new policy, which this newspaper queried about in April. We were told that the document would be issued in a matter of weeks. Since then, it has been discussed at parliamentary committee level, but there is only a wall of silence.

It is clear that this document is needed. We are rapidly approaching the year 2010 and it is simply unacceptable not to have one. We cannot have people here and thither making up the guidelines as they go along. Of course, it is not the fault of educators and parents if there is no policy document!

It is the year 2009. People need direction and, to have direction, there must be a clear and coordinated policy guideline which our educators can use to teach the younger generation the necessity of responsibility in behaviour.

No matter how many times the theory of abstinence is preached, people will still have sex, and many times, it will be unprotected sex. There are no qualms with the theory – abstinence does mean a very drastic cut in risk – but as a people and as a government, we must accept that norms and attitudes are changing and that people might not conform.

The very least we can do is outline the very basic points: the risks of infection, sexual behaviour, sexual protection, sharing of needles, educating our children. Some might think we are being too blunt in what we are saying. But the reality is that this is the stark naked; and not so bright truth.