AIDS Solidarity Fund
Raising funds for the sustainability of communities affected by HIV/AIDS
Society is bracing the impact of COVID-19.
People Living with HIV, particularly those with weakened immune system are facing elevated risk of contracting the disease. Our HIV community – many who are from economically-deprived background and already suffering from stigma and discrimination – will bear the worst brunt from the economic fallout due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Malaysian AIDS Foundation is determined to continue our mission to help People Living with HIV in Malaysia. We will pull out all the stops to cushion the blow of COVID-19 on the HIV community and continue running our life-saving programmes during these troubled times, but we need your help.
You can make a difference.
The AIDS epidemic cannot be ended without the needs of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and the determinants of health and vulnerability being addressed.
PLHIV often live in fragile communities and are frequently discriminated against, marginalised and affected by inequality and instability. Their concerns, therefore, must be at the forefront of sustainable development efforts.
As we are fast adapting to the new reality of living with COVID-19, the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) has identified 4 key strategic measures that can promote the long-term sustainability of our community:
PUTTING TREATMENT AT THE FOREFRONT OF AIDS RESPONSE
How antiretroviral promotes PLHIV Sustainability?
A patient on antiretroviral (ARV) today has the same life expectancy as a person without HIV.
Norlela Mokhtar and Jamaliah Mansor, both in their late 50s, are a picture of resilience and confidence. Having received sustained ARV treatment for more than 20 years, HIV infection does not get in their way of leading happy, fulfilling lives.
As a single mother, Norlela was able to provide for her family of 5 earning a decent living and with relatively good health. Not only did she survive, she also thrived as one of the leading activists and a voice for women living with HIV in Malaysia.
Jamaliah has found a new purpose in life after recovering from the initial shock of her HIV diagnosis. Her spectacular recovery after getting ARV treatment also emboldened her to become an entrepreneur. She even found a new love in her life and has been happily married for more than 10 years.
TREATMENT AS A MORE SUSTAINABLE PREVENTIVE MEASURE
In Malaysia, 95 % of new HIV cases are caused by sexual transmission.
Viral suppression is also the science behind the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (or PCMCT) programme – which gives a woman living with HIV a second shot at motherhood and the opportunity to give birth to a completely healthy, HIV-negative baby.
In 2018, Malaysia was recognised by the WHO as the first country in the Western Pacific region to have eliminated HIV and syphilis transmission from mother to child as a public health threat.
The Medicine Assistance Scheme by the MAF provides subsidy for second-line ARV medicine to low-income patients in Malaysia who are not covered by the Government.
Initiated in 1998, this life-saving scheme has provided thousands of Malaysians living with HIV a second shot at life by procuring medication that they critically need but can’t afford due to high costs. At present, MAF is supporting close to 300 beneficiaries of the Scheme.
The Medicine Assistance Scheme is critical to Malaysia’s ending AIDS by 2030 goals as continued access HIV treatment and adherence will ensure better viral suppression outcomes, which further reduces onward transmission of HIV and improves the quality of life for PLHIV. Conversely, poor treatment adherence is associated not only with less effective viral suppression but also with drug resistance and reduced survival.
BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
At present, our most vulnerable community members are given protection at 15 Shelter Homes for PLHIV across Malaysia. Rejected by family and society and bereft of social support, these Shelter Homes provide a safe space and the support that they need to rebuild their lives.
Our goal going forward is to give every individual Shelter Home beneficiary a new lease on life by providing them differentiated HIV/AIDS treatment and care services specific to their needs and a customised human development plan that will give them equal chance at social reintegration.
A radical transformation plan was designed by MAF and our Partner Organisation, the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), that will shift our Shelter Homes to become a Human Development Centre. At the heart of our transformation plan is the development of a clear exit plan within 6 months to 1 year of residency.
Our plan is to capitalise on a partnership with a number of strategic corporate and government agency partners to provide economic / employment opportunities to PLHIV beneficiaries beyond the Shelter Homes. Beneficiaries will be integrated into these skill building and employment programmes.
REDUCING VULNERABILITY OF CHILDREN AFFECTED BY HIV
Approximately 1,200 children were born with HIV in the past 15 years and many more were directly affected when they lost their parent or elder relative to AIDS. Reducing the vulnerability of children living with HIV is one of the core mandates of MAF.
Our programmes focus on supporting the children’s caregivers, often older generations, keeping children in school, protecting their legal and human rights, and ensuring that their emotional needs are catered for.
The Paediatric AIDS Fund is a special assistance scheme that provides a monthly allowance of RM100 to underprivileged children aged 12 years old and below living with HIV or born into HIV-impacted families.
The aim of the programme is to improve the child’s quality of life and alleviate the financial burden of the child’s caretaker / legal guardian.
Initiated in 1998, PAF is one of the longest-running HIV community support programmes by MAF.
At present, PAF is supporting 100 child beneficiaries across Malaysia.
AIDS SOLIDARITY FUND
The Malaysian AIDS Foundation would like to cordially invite you to partner with us by making a donation to the AIDS Solidarity Fund.
We are pleased to offer you the following partnership options:
EVERY SINGLE DONATION COUNTS
Other than the sponsorship packages above, MAF also accepts and appreciates donations of any amount from your esteemed organisation. MAF will provide the tax exemption receipt for all cash contributions to MAF.
Every contribution and support given is of great value to us and to the vulnerable communities whose lives are not only burdened by the pandemic but also marginalised due to stigma and discrimination.
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
Your donation can be made by crossed cheque, made payable to Malaysian AIDS Foundation.
You may also directly transfer your donation to our account:
Bank: Maybank Berhad
Bank account name: Malaysian AIDS Foundation
Account number: 5141-0542-1257
Branch: Kompleks Dayabumi Kuala Lumpur
SWIFT Code: MBB-MBBEMYKL
CALL TO OUR COMMUNITY
If you are a Malaysian living with HIV and directly impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic – either diagnosed with the COVID-19 or have lost your income from the economic fallout, please reach out to MAF Secretariat and let us work out how we can help you. We are in this together #kitajagakita
- CONTACT
- maf@mac.org.my
- Oliver 03.4047.4251 / 019.8738.368