MALAYSIAN BUSINESS CONSORTIUM ON HIV/AIDS (MBCH)
Be part of the Malaysian Business Consortium on HIV/AIDS (MBCH), a corporate membership programme that brings together local corporate companies in Malaysia under the single agenda of promoting workplace protection policy and developing effective HIV/AIDS workplace programmes. MBCH is a proactive measure that helps to mitigate the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at the workplace and also a step forward towards the creation of a better and safer workplace environment for employees.
Launched 2010
HIV AND BUSINESS
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, was first identified in 1983. Since then, HIV has spread around the world, causing one of the most severe global epidemics of modern time. The initial response was led by the public and non-profit sectors, which have mobilised increasing human and financial resources to combat the disease as well as the impact that HIV/AIDS is having on its workforce. The impact of HIV/AIDS can be managed by implementing a formal HIV/AIDS policy to reduce the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS at the workplace.
THE IMPACT OF HIV ON BUSINESSES
Employers everywhere are asking themselves whether HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on business. The answer is YES.
HIV/AIDS is not purely a health issue; it is also an issue that goes to the very core of business practices. HIV/AIDS has a negative impact on both the business environment (macroeconomic impact) and on the enterprise directly (microeconomic impact). To sum up, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is likely to result in increased costs and declining productivity for firms, which ultimately will lead to declining profits.
To address this concern, Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) has driven the formation of the Malaysian Business Consortium on HIV/AIDS (MBCH), where businesses come together to mitigate the impact of HIV & AIDS in the workplace and also to create as many safe spaces as possible for employees and professionals living with HIV to thrive and succeed.
MBCH is supported by the Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) of Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia and Ministry of Health Malaysia in line with their National Strategic Plan for Ending AIDS 2016 - 2030.
PRINCIPAL PARTNER OF MBCH
Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia
Ministry of Health Malaysia
GlaxoSmithKline Malaysia
.
CORPORATE ADVISER
Petronas
Yayasan Sime Darby
Standard Chartered Global Services
TSH Resources Bhd
HIV WORKPLACE POLICY
Many large and small businesses address HIV in their workplace policies and programmes to promote good health — either directly or through general policies and initiatives. These programmes can be also be cost-effective and can save businesses money. By educating yourself and your employees now, you can potentially reduce the financial impact, legal implications, work disruptions and other effects that HIV can have on a business when it is not prepared.
OVERVIEW OF HIV WORKPLACE POLICY
A workplace policy is the framework of commitment (work plan) for ACTION to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and manage its impact in the workplace. The HIV/AIDS workplace policy should address essential issues, including non-discrimination, fair employment, management commitment, confidentiality, communication of information and prevention.
Currently, there is no compulsion to have a HIV and AIDS policy at the workplace, although businesses are encouraged to adopt the Code of Practice on Prevention and Management of HIV and AIDS at the Workplace developed by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia. This document underscores the value of having HIV and AIDS education at the workplace and more importantly, a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory work environment.
THE BUSINESS BENEFITS OF HIV/AIDS WORKPLACE POLICY
Implementing the HIV/AIDS workplace policy in your organisation has the following benefits:
Better quality of life for employees with HIV/AIDS
Increase productivity
Increase awareness and knowledge of HIV/AIDS
Reduce stigma and discrimination among key populations
Increase and improve the value of humanity
Add Significant Value to Organisation
In addition, once hired, People Living with HIV can add significant value to an organisation by providing increased understanding of and insight into target markets and audiences.
CSR PARTNERSHIP
Many companies that have addressed HIV/AIDS within their workforce have done so in partnership with the Malaysian AIDS Foundation. These partnerships play an important role in accessing specialised knowledge and experience.
Reasons to Partner with the Malaysian AIDS Foundation Our Credibility & Advantages
MAF is led by a talented and dedicated Board of Trustees who volunteers their time and expertise to ensure professional stewardship of corporate and public donations that have been made in support of the Foundation.
Our Board comprises prominent and well-respected corporate and civil society leaders who bring with them a wealth of experience in financial management, governance and connections for the benefit of the Foundation.
MAF is well-equipped and highly capable to manage large grants and charitable giving by the corporate sectors and international corporation agencies.
We have a dedicated Monitoring & Evaluation Team as well as audit team to ensure that all contributions made by our corporate partners are well spent. Our donor reporting system is also well established and meets the rigorous standard demanded by our donors; both locally and internationally.
Our Corporate Partners:
- Yayasan Sime Darby
- M.A.C AIDS Fund
- GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical Malaysia
- Abbvie Pharmaceutical Malaysia
- Berjaya Cares Foundation
- Maybank Group
- CIMB Foundation
- Marriott Hotels Malaysia
- Hilton Hotels Malaysia
- Petronas
- L’Oreal Professionnel
- Shell Malaysia
- L’Oreal Malaysia
You can tap MAF’s expertise in running socially-minded programmes to help you achieve your goals for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Through partnership with MAF, we can help you to engage and motivate your staff, making them feel that they belong to a socially responsible organisation.
From developing and promoting a programme to building relationships and gaining employee buy-in, we will act as a full partner to ensure your efforts are effective and with our trusted brand, we are also able to promote your CSR profile.
Your partnership with MAF will pave the way for the start of meaningful changes in your organisation where in the long-term, we can work together to end discriminatory practices against People Living with HIV at the workplace.
MAF is a well-regarded brand that represents the best that Malaysian civil society can offer. For more than 20 years, we have helped to shape public opinion about HIV and AIDS and initiate meaningful participation by many large Malaysian corporations on this important healthcare and social issues.
Whether you are looking to sponsor, co-brand or become an official partner, we can add value to your brand. Through channels including events, online campaigns and social media, we can also promote your brand.
JOIN MBCH TODAY
The Malaysian Business Consortium on HIV/AIDS (MBCH) is pleased to invite your esteemed company to benefit from our MBCH programme as a member.
By becoming a member, you will enjoy:
HIV and AIDS training for your employees
Policy guidelines
Access to professional consultation by MAF and Ministry of Human Resources on the planning and implementation of HIV and AIDS workplace policy
Tax exemption receipt
RESOURCES
To learn more, please download the following resources:
A Study on Medical Insurance Coverage for People Living with HIV in Selected Multinational Insurance Companies in Malaysia
HIV & AIDS IN MALAYSIA
Under the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS (NSP) 2006-2010, Malaysia has made much progress in HIV prevention, particularly utilising the harm reduction approach which has begun to yield results in reducing the spread of the HIV epidemic. People Living with HIV and in need of treatment are able to access first-line treatment at no cost whilst the second-line regimes are heavily subsidised as well.
The biggest challenge in the management of HIV/AIDS is the shifting trend of the epidemic. Sexual transmission is now the leading cause of HIV in Malaysia (70% of all newly reported cases in 2016), replacing injecting drug use which used to be the main cause of the HIV and AIDS epidemic for more than 30 years. Malaysia currently records 9 new HIV infections per day and 6 of them were caused by sexual transmission.
MALAYSIAN AIDS FOUNDATION
The Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) was formed in 1993 to raise and administer funds to support the activities and programmes of the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and its Partner Organisations. It was formally incorporated under the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1952 on May 13, 2003, under the esteemed patronage of YABhg Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor. These programmes include financial assistance schemes for children and adolescents infected and/or affected by HIV and the medicine assistance scheme to support Malaysians living with HIV in accessing life-saving treatment; as well as community-based HIV & AIDS education, prevention, treatment, care and support programmes nationwide.
Through its activities and programmes, MAF was able to reach out to as many people living with HIV as possible with health services, care and compassion, to improve their quality of life and enable them to contribute positively back to society. MAF also distributes corporate donors’ funds to support projects that have been unable to secure government funding or projects located in parts of the country where resources are scarce.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MALAYSIAN AIDS FOUNDATION (2020-2022)
Chairman Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman Honorary Secretary Bakhtiar TalhahHonorary Treasurer Woo Kin Fai
Trustees Datuk Lai Voon Hon Datuk Dr. Christopher Lee Kwok Choong Prof. Madya Dr. Raja Iskandar Shah Bin Raja Azwa Mohamad Shahrani Bin Mohamad Tamrin Munir Abd Aziz Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina
TESTIMONIES
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