Looi (not his real name) is only eight years old but he is already facing great challenges in life. He is not only physically handicapped, but he was diagnosed with HIV at birth in 2010. The second child of a fisherman, Looi has never experienced school life as his parents could not afford it.

Both his parents are HIV positive. Looi and his father, 48, are both receiving treatment at the Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang.

The family lives in a wooden house that they share with other resident who are not aware of their HIV status. Looi’s father earns RM900 to RM1,000 a month as a fisherman while his 33-year old mother, an Indonesian citizen, is a housewife.

They don’t own a vehicle and have to seek help from friends to send them to HTAR for treatment. Looi’s father had also requested for wheelchair assistance to ease his son’s mobility but so far, they have not received help from anyone.

Looi’s family is grateful for the support given by MAF, which is a financial aid of RM100 per month, through the Foundation’s Paediatric AIDS Fund programme as it helps to reduce the family’s financial burden.